Roush Fenway awarded two MarCom Awards: Roush Fenway Racing has been recognized for outstanding achievement by the prestigious MarCom Awards. The team has been awarded a pair of MarCom Platinum Awards for its marketing and communications efforts in 2016. The organization received a Platinum Award in the category of 'Social Media Campaign' for its innovative #RFRTruckin social campaign. In addition, Roush Fenway was awarded a Platinum Award in the 'Social Media Branding' category for its Social 'Jack' Icon program. The team also garnered Honorable Mention for its launch of the SunnyD program this season, in the Communications/PR Program category. MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communications professionals. The awards received over 6,500 entries this year, with only 17 percent awarded Platinum status by earning the highest distinction as 'the most outstanding entries in the competition.' Platinum Winners are recognized for 'their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness.'
The #RFRTruckin program, which provided fans a 'behind the scenes' look at a NASCAR 'road trip,' garnered instant media attention and earned over 23 million organic impressions. The 'Social Icon' program represented team co-owner Jack Roush's iconic hat and leveraged local market integration, partner programs, cause marketing and merchandise licensing. The SunnyD 'NASCAR' program, which featured the NASCAR remake of the classic 'purple stuff' commercial, generated more than 8.5 million impressions for the brand, produced more than three million video views and gained national media exposure.
Roush Fenway Racing has now won a total of four MarCom Platinum Awards since 2011, when it took home its first Platinum for the famed 'Ricky vs. Trevor' campaign. The team also brought home a Platinum Award for its 'Let Ricky Race' campaign in 2013, as well as Gold Awards for '25 Winning Years', 'RFRDriven' and the Pillow Pets NASCAR Launch.(Roush Fenway Racing)(12-11-2016)

Newmark discusses Roush Fenway's plans: The decline in performance at Roush Fenway Racing is best expressed in one stark statistic. In 2005, half the Chase field consisted of Roush Fenway drivers -- when there were only 10 drivers in the Chase. In 2016, there were no RFR entries in a 16-driver Chase field. How does that happen? RFR has been asking itself the same question while attempting to right the ship. Once the dominant organization in the Ford camp, Roush will drop to third in the pecking order upon the arrival of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017.
RFR President Steve Newmark called the downsizing at RFR a strategic move - albeit an extremely tough decision. The company considered more than a dozen options before arriving at its current organizational chart. "The whole goal and the whole objective of doing whatever we did is to make sure we would improve our performance and make our race cars faster," Newmark told Motorsport.com. "Obviously, there are different opinions on how you do that and ultimately what we decided is we need to be more of an engineering, laser-focussed company. We've always been good at production and manufacturing. I think sometimes you fall back on what you're comfortable with.
Over the last two weeks, close to 30 Roush employees have been displaced - some in house, some such as veteran crew chief Bob Osborne who had been overseeing Chris Buescher's campaign at Front Row Motorsports. Together, the pair made the Chase. Buescher, Roush's most talented prospect in its driver stable, is now on loan to JTG Daugherty Racing (along with a RFR charter) for 2017.
Roush Fenway Racing will continue its technical alliance with Bob Jenkins and Front Row Motorsports. Newmark says the multi-year deal with FRM is one of the best collaborations Roush has had over the years. Although it's unlikely that one of the RFR prospects will replace Buescher in the #34 Ford. "They have some great folks there and we''ll continue to work with them next year," Newmark said. "We have dialogue with Bob quite a bit, but I don't think that (driver development) will be part of the relationship next year." That's not to say that Ryan Reed or Darrell "Bubba" Wallace couldn't see seat time in a Cup car in 2017. However, Newmark says the company's immediate focus remains on getting Bayne and Stenhouse up to speed.(Motorsport)(12-8-2016)

Reiser out as general manager at Roush Fenway UPDATE: Robbie Reiser was relieved of his duties as general manager at Roush Fenway Racing on Tuesday, Motorsport.com has learned. Reiser, 53, has been with the company for 17 seasons, first as a crew chief and eventually graduating to a managerial role. Reiser has been offered a position in the car production side of RFR, but he has yet to decide where his future lies. Calls to Roush Fenway Racing were not immediately returned. Neither Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne or Greg Biffle finished inside the top 20 in the Sprint Cup standings this season. For the second year, there was not a Roush driver in the Chase.(Motorsport)(11-23-2016)UPDATE: Robbie Reiser didn't really have a lot he wanted to say about his situation at Roush Fenway Racing. He was relieved of his duties as vice president of competition. But he's not going anywhere. He doesn't yet have a title or even a full job description for his next role as the team struggles to regain its footing. But he is as dedicated to doing his part to bring success as he was in 2003, when he won a NASCAR title as Matt Kenseth's crew chief, or in 2007, when he answered Jack Roush's call to lead the whole operation. And at this point in his life, the 53-year-old, second-generation racer from Allenton is OK with it all. "This is going to free me up for my family, to be able to spend some time with them," said Reiser, who has one son in college and twin boys in high school, one of them a dirt-bike racer he has rarely watched.
Reiser's choice of words Thursday was interesting - he was "relieved" of his duties - because you have to believe there's a part of him that is relieved. He works hard, he's stubborn and he's not cut out to lose.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(12-4-2016)

Chris Buescher to 2nd JTG Daughtery team? UPDATE 2: Greg Biffle's decision to leave Roush-Fenway Racing on Monday triggered a strange chain reaction that will include the slumping racing company loaning driver Chris Buescher to a rival manufacturer next season. Buescher will drive for a newly-created second Chevrolet team at JTG Daughtery Racing in 2017. Roush Fenway is expected to scuttle Biffle's #16 team, and that could make that team's charter available to the highest bidder - including the new JTG Daughtery entry. Despite fielding full-time teams for Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne, Roush Fenway hasn't won a race since 2014. By loaning Buescher to JTG Daugherty next year, Ford Racing will be able to work on upgrades with Roush Fenway while keeping one of its young drivers under contract. "It was a mutual agreement," Biffle said. "It's been frustrating for everyone. I've been the one carrying the company banner. It just didn't get any better. I didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel, so I decided I'd rather do something else - even if it means not driving anymore. I owe Jack everything I've accomplished in this sport. Some things just run their course." Roush said Biffle was one of the anchors of his entire race team. "I don't have the words to say what Greg has meant to this organization," Roush said in a team release. "He is a true racer who has always exhibited a will to win and an intense passion for speed. For almost two decades Greg has given us an opportunity to run up front and compete for wins. Greg exemplifies what every owner hopes for in a driver and I'm extremely thankful for having him as part of our organization."(Florida Times Union)(11-21-2016)UPDATE: From Bob Pockrass Twitter: "Tad Geschickter says nothing done yet as far as plans for second JTG car next year."(11-22-2016)UPDATE 2: Roush Fenway Racing Announces 2017 NASCAR Cup Plans: Roush Fenway Racing has announced its 2017 plans for the NASCAR Cup Series that will see the organization field a two-car Cup operation next season, with drivers Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. piloting the #6 and #17 Ford Fusions, respectively, in NASCAR's highest series. In addition, Kevin Kidd and Tommy Wheeler will lead Roush Fenway's overall competition efforts going forward. Kidd will assume the role of Competition Director, and Wheeler will serve as the team's Operations Director. The team will lease its #16 NASCAR Charter and driver Chris Buescher to JTG Racing in 2017. "We have been able to shore up our plans for 2017 and we feel that this will continue to move us in a direction that will yield improved performance and results," said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. "We saw improvement in our cars and made substantial gains in our performance at times last season, and we will continue to build on that by maintaining a robust engineering group in order to take the next step by consistently running up front."
The #6 team will once again be led by veteran crew chief Matt Puccia. Brian Pattie, who was the crew chief for the #16 Cup Series team last season, will transition to crew chief of the #17 team. Nick Sandler, who served as the #17 crew chief the last two seasons, has been named Director of Engineering. Robbie Reiser, who has played an integral role on the competition side at Roush Fenway Racing for a number of years, will remain with the organization in a yet to be determined position. Kidd has served as Roush Fenway's Cup Team Manager - supervising all at-track operations - for the previous two seasons, after coming over from Joe Gibbs Racing where he worked as a crew chief for the previous half decade. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech, and has worked as a lead engineer for multiple teams and drivers. Wheeler, who holds a B.S. in physics from Davidson College, joined Roush Fenway in 2009. A 20-plus year veteran of the sport, he has served in many capacities for the team, including as the team's production director since 2011, overseeing the building and production of all of the organization's Cup and XFINITY Series cars. (RFR)(11-29-2016)AND Chris Buescher will drive a second car for JTG Daugherty in 2017, the team stated Tuesday. "We can confirm at this time that JTG Daugherty Racing is currently in the process of starting a second team in the NASCAR premier series," JTG Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement. "We would also like to confirm and welcome Chris Buescher to the team as our driver for the second car. More details will follow." Said Buescher, 24, in a statement: "I can confirm that I have signed to race for JTG Daugherty Racing as they expand to a two-car team in the NASCAR premier series in 2017. I'm thankful for the opportunity and look forward to competing for a spot in the Chase. We'll have more details at a later date."(NBC Sports)(11-29-2016)

Stenhouse, Jr forms World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car team: Sprint car veteran and 99-time World of Outlaw Craftsman Sprint Car Series winner Joey Saldana has found a new home for the 2017 racing season. Saldana will drive the Elk Grove Ford/Roth Investments #17 for the newly-formed Stenhouse Jr.-Wood Racing team. Owned by NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Matt Wood, Stenhouse Jr.-Wood Racing will compete full time on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series tour in 2017. Saldana, who finished fifth in the World of Outlaws point standings in 2016, will be looking to improve that finish and earn his milestone 100th series victory. Tyler Swank, who led the Keneric Team to a Kings Royal victory in 2014, has been named crew chief of the #17 team. Swank, 39, and crew members will Adam Clark and Chris Bowe will field the team out of Saldana's Brownsburg, Ind., race shop. Wood's No. 17W team started the 2016 with late driver Bryan Clauson. Clauson's life tragically ended while leading the Belleville Midget Nationals in Belleville, Kansas in August. "A year ago Matt (Wood), Richard (Marshall of Priority Aviation) and I began forming a World of Outlaws team centered around Bryan Clauson driving. After Bryan's tragic crash we all kind of just laid low," said co-owner Stenhouse Jr. "A few weeks ago an opportunity came up to have a partnership with Matt, Dennis Roth, Richard and myself. With Joey driving the car, it was something I felt I couldn't pass up."(Stenhouse Jr. - Wood Racing)(11-29-2016)

Zest will not return to Roush Fenway:Zest announced Tuesday afternoon that they will not renew their sponsorship deal with Roush Fenway Racing:
"Since 2012, the Zest brand has enjoyed a successful relationship with Roush Feway Racing and the NASCAR community. We're proud to have been represented by drivers Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Matt Kenseth and Chris Busescher during our successful sponsorship program.
We appreciate the support from NASCAR fans who welcomed and embraced our products over the past five years. Their loyalty had been key to the sccessful activation of our racing initiatives.
While we will no longer have a Zest car racing, we will continue to watch the races as fans and always cheer for the Roush Fenway Racing team, especially #17!"
(11-23-2016)

Stenhouse Jr. to Honor the Late Bryan Clauson at the Jason Leffler Classic: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will return to his dirt-track roots this Thursday night as he drives the #39 for the newly formed Clauson-Marshall Racing at the Jason Leffler Classic at Wayne County Speedway to honor his late friend Bryan Clauson. "I'm always thrilled to race with Tim and this team. I value the friendship and passion he and Bryan have for racing," Stenhouse, Jr., commented. "This race means a lot to Bryan. The whole racing family comes together to remember an awesome guy and racer. I'm looking forward to representing this team and hope I can do even half of what Bryan could do in this car. Bryan's passing hasn't gotten easier, but it's been unbelievable to see the support of so many friends, family and fans. With them, I hope to continue Bryan's legacy and continue in his winning ways. It helps all of us and I'm glad to be a tiny part of it with this team." At Bristol earlier this year, the Olive Branch, Miss. native drove a Bryan Clauson Fastenal tribute scheme to a second-place finish after overcoming a two-lap deficit and a speeding penalty on pit road. The second-place finish tied his career best finish, also at Bristol in 2014. After the race on Thursday evening, Stenhouse will travel to Talladega Superspeedway for the Hellmann's 500.(RFR)(10-19-2016)

Roush Fenway campaign for breast cancer awareness in October: Roush Fenway Racing will again utilize its award-winning 'Driven' Marketing program in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. The 'Driven for a Cause' campaign will use various elements to highlight cause awareness and support throughout the month. All of Roush Fenway's race cars will carry special 'pink ribbon Driven logos' in each of the month's events. In addition, Greg Biffle will run a special pink Ford EcoBoost paint scheme on his #16 Ford Fusion at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 8. Other Roush Fenway Racing Fords will feature special pink numbers during the Charlotte event. During the month of October, team owner Jack Roush will don a pink 'Driven for a Cause' shirt on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race days in an effort to bring more awareness to the cause. At Roush Fenway's Annual Fall Fan Appreciation Day on Thursday, October 6, fans will be invited to participate in the pink-themed 'Driven for a Cause' selfie-booth, complete with pink props. Fans who utilize the social media platform Snap Chat and are onsite for Fan Day will also have the opportunity to use a special geofilter with the 'Driven for a Cause' logo. All participants are encouraged to share these photos with family and friends on social media using the #DrivenforaCause hashtag. Roush Fenway is offering 'Driven for a Cause' merchandise, with a percentage of the proceeds going to Carolina Breast Friends.(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-3-2016)

Bryan Clauson Racing will continue: The legacy of Bryan Clauson Racing will continue under a new name thanks to Bryan Clauson's father, Tim Clauson, and team co-owner Richard Marshall. The team will now be known as Clauson-Marshall Racing banner and will make its debut during the upcoming USAC National Midget Series Jason Leffler Memorial at Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Ill., on Oct. 20. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive for the team on Oct. 20. Bryan Clauson died Aug. 7 after being involved in a violent crash the previous evening during the Belleville Midget Nationals at the Belleville (Kan.) High Banks. Bryan Clauson and Marshall formed Bryan Clauson Racing in 2008 with the idea of providing their knowledge and experience with drivers and families attempting to navigate their way through the sport while at the same time providing Clauson with an outlet to pursue the venue of motorsports that he loved most, midget and sprint car racing. Along the way, the team met many of its goals including a pair of USAC National Midget championships and a USAC Sprint Car title along with three USAC Driver of the Year awards while also helping in the development of many younger drivers making their way through the ranks. Bryan Clauson Racing had the honor of having some of the nation's top drivers race out of its stable including the likes of Tyler Courtney, Shane Golobic, Spencer Bayston, Jason Johnson, Kyle Larson and Stenhouse, among others. As such, it is only fitting that the Clauson-Marshall Racing debut at the Jason Leffler Classic will feature Stenhouse at the wheel. "I'm always thrilled to race with Tim and this team. I value the friendship and passion he and Bryan have for racing," Stenhouse said. "This race means a lot to Bryan. The whole racing family comes together to remember an awesome guy and racer."(National Speed Sport News)(10-1-2016)

New pit crew coach at Roush Fenway: Roush Fenway Racing has decided to reassign longtime pit crew coach Andy Ward, replacing him with Scott Bowen, a current RFR employee and an ex-pit crew member. Ward has been at RFR for many years and has produced some very good pit crews. Roush Fenway Racing released the following statement regarding the move: "We continuously evaluate our race team operations at Roush Fenway, and as part of a mid-season restructuring we have implemented a change in the department structure with our pit crew teams. We have placed Scott Bowen, who previously was our head of purchasing, in charge of our pit crew operations. Scott is a longtime employee of Roush Fenway, and worked as an over-the-wall pit crew member for several years. We believe this change will prove beneficial in our continued effort to improve on-track performance."(PitTalks/NASCAR.com)(9-29-2016)

Stenhouse Jr. ties career best finish: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drove his #17-Bryan Clauson Fastenal tribute Ford to a second-place finish after overcoming a two-lap deficit and a speeding penalty on pit road. The second-place finish tied his career best finish of second at Bristol in 2014. "It wasn't from a lack of hard work and being lucky a few times," Stenhouse said. "We really wanted to get this Bryan Clauson tribute car in victory lane. It just wasn't meant to be today. We made our car a lot faster throughout the race and came from two laps down to get back on the lead lap. We missed some wrecks and gave it all we had. I thought we were matching the No. 4 car there lap for lap, but he got away from us and we had to restart sixth there on that last restart, but it was an honor to drive this car. This place was pretty packed last night so thanks to all the fans and thanks to all the fans that were able to stay around. I thought the track was really good. You could run the bottom. You could run the top. We just wanted one more spot."(RFR)(8-22-2016)

Stenhouse Jr. and Larson to honor Clauson at Bristol: The outpouring of support for Bryan Clauson continued at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and #42-Kyle Larson honoring the memory of their close friend with special helmets and paint schemes. Clauson died at age 27 from injuries suffered during an Aug. 6 accident in the Belleville (Kansas) Midget Nationals. Clauson got his start in NASCAR racing as a development driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, but after 26 starts in the XFINITY series, with a best finish of fifth at Kentucky, he returned to open wheels and established himself as one of the all-time best in USAC competition.
In Saturday night's Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, both Stenhouse and Larson will wear helmets sporting the initials "BC" in honor of their friend. With the blessing of sponsor Fastenal, Stenhouse's car will feature a paint scheme reminiscent of the one Clauson ran seven years ago.
"Bryan was a great friend of Kyle's and mine," Stenhouse, 28, said on Friday at Bristol. "I moved to North Carolina, and he was already there. Even though he was younger, I kind of always looked at him as an older brother, because he kind of did everything before I did. He let me move in with him, and we had a lot of fun in North Carolina. He showed me the ropes of stock car racing, and then, obviously, he was the best there was at running sprint cars, so to be able to run his paint scheme. His family is super excited, and we are, too, at our team." On Aug. 11 at the Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals, Stenhouse led the field on a parade lap in the winged sprint car Clauson was to have driven in the competition. Larson and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Rico Abreu were on hand as competitors during the off week. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon were there to support charitable efforts, which included an auction on behalf of the Clauson family on Aug. 12. Gordon flew the Clausons back to Indiana on his plane that afternoon. On Saturday night, Stewart's sprint car driver, Donny Schatz, was five feet short of his 10th Knoxville Nationals title, finishing second to race-winner Jason Johnson.(NASCAR Wire Service)(8-20-2016)

Stenhouse Jr. to Honor Clauson with Special Scheme at Bristol: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will pay tribute to the late Bryan Clauson this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway by running the Fastenal scheme that Clauson raced during the 2008 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. "It will be a huge honor to run the same Fastenal scheme that Bryan raced in 2008," Stenhouse said. "This past week has been difficult for many but it has been great to see the racing community join together to support Bryan's family, friends and Lauren. Bryan was one of my best friends and hopefully we can 'parked it' in victory lane on Saturday for Bryan." In 2008, Fastenal served as the primary partner for Clauson's #40 Chip Ganassi machine. In his 21 starts, he scored one pole award at Daytona International Speedway and one top-five and two top-10 finishes.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(8-15-2016)

Stenhouse, Jr. honoring Clauson at Knoxville: Knoxville Raceway tweeted Tuesday, that "[Bryan Clauson]'s 17w will Pace the Field on his qualifying night Thur with his best friend, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. behind the wheel.".
The 56th Annual 5-hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals kick off Wednesday at Knoxville Raceway and run through Saturday.(8-10-2016)

Fifth Third Bank Raises $145K For Stand Up To Cancer : During the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Kentucky Speedway on July 9, 2016, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s #17 Fifth Third Ford was adorned with 53 names of brave individuals who are currently fighting or have fought a battle with cancer. Many of these names belonged to Fifth Third employees and their loved ones. As a result, Fifth Third is proud to announce that over $145,000 will be donated to Stand Up To Cancer. "It was an honor to help Fifth Third raise funds and bring awareness to a great cause," Stenhouse said. "We went to Fifth Third's headquarters in Cincinnati on Thursday leading into the race weekend and got to meet with a lot of the employees who submitted names and individuals whose names appeared on the car. It was great to spend time with Willie (Rhodarmer), whose name was above my passenger window, and her family. Willie is a brave woman who is fighting cancer but still has a lot of spunk. Cancer affects so many so it's awesome to see the support of Fifth Third to Stand Up To Cancer." A longtime supporter of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), Fifth Third Bank, in partnership with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., reached out to NASCAR fans asking them to #StandUpwithRicky and honor a friend or family member who has fought or is in the fight against cancer by sharing their story. For every story shared with the hashtag #StandUpwithRicky, Fifth Third Bank made a donation to Stand Up To Cancer. Fifth Third will also continue its #howifight campaign through December 31. From running a 10K to bringing dinner to a neighbor fighting cancer, Fifth Third is encouraging everyone to share how they fight using #howifight. Fifth Third Bank will donate $1 per eligible hashtag usage to Stand Up To Cancer up to $500,000. You can see how people fight and get full details at 53.com/howifight. To date, Fifth Third Bank has donated over $6.3 million to Stand Up To Cancer.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-27-2016)

SunnyD renews sponsorship with Roush Fenway, Stenhouse: You will find no "purple stuff" in the #17 team's cooler at Roush Fenway Racing, as the team has announced a multi-year extension with SunnyD as a primary partner on the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford with driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The iconic brand has served as the primary partner for Stenhouse in multiple races this season, including this weekend at the famed Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We are very excited to have SunnyD extend its partnership on the #17," said Stenhouse. "It's a great brand and we have had a lot of fun this year promoting their product. In addition to the extension, SunnyD will serve as the primary for Stenhouse in the October Sprint Cup race at Charlotte and in the NASCAR XFINITY Race in Phoenix later this season. This season, Roush Fenway and SunnyD have teamed together in several unique social programs and promotions. Stenhouse and teammate Chris Buescher, along with FOX personalities Kaitlyn Vincie and Andrew Doud, recreated the classic "Purple Stuff" SunnyD commercial.(Roush Fenway)(7-22-2016)

Stenhouse to run special Stand up to Cancer scheme: Fifty-three names of brave individuals who are currently fighting or have fought a battle with cancer will be featured on the #17 Fifth Third Ford for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky. A longtime supporter of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), Fifth Third Bank, in partnership with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., reached out to NASCAR fans asking them to #StandUpwithRicky and honor a friend or family member who has fought or is in the fight against cancer by sharing their story. For every story shared with the hashtag #StandUpwithRicky, Fifth Third Bank made a donation to Stand Up To Cancer up to $20,000.
"I'm honored to be a part of this campaign to raise funds and awareness for a great cause," said Stenhouse. "I don't know anyone whose life has not been affected by cancer in one way or another. This car has 53 names on it, but it represents millions fighting the battle every day."
In addition to the money donated during the #StandUpwithRicky campaign, Fifth Third will be donating $530 for every lap Stenhouse makes at the Quaker State 400 race. Fifth Third will also continue its #howifight campaign through December 31. From running a 10K to bringing dinner to a neighbor fighting cancer, Fifth Third is encouraging everyone to share how they fight using #howifight. Fifth Third Bank will donate $1 per eligible hashtag usage to Stand Up To Cancer up to $500,000. You can see how people fight and get full details at 53.com/howifight. To date, Fifth Third Bank has donated over $6.2 million to Stand Up To Cancer.
"With cancer impacting so many, we asked ourselves, 'Could a bank help in the fight against this disease?' " Maria Veltre, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Fifth Third Bank, said. "That was more than three years ago, and we've proven since that we can make a difference with the help of our customers, employees and members of our communities, and now leveraging the power of celebrity with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. With this campaign we want to highlight all the ways that we help fight every day."(RFR), see image of the scheme on the #17 Teams Schemes page.(7-7-2016)

Former US Army Officer to serve as #17 Team Rep: In honor of Independence Day, Jason McKay will be the #17 Roush Fenway Racing team representative during the pre-race ceremonies for Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway where he will line up amongst 150 military members to hold the American Flag during invocation and the national anthem. McKay, who graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2007 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer, is part of the engineering department at Roush Fenway Racing but serves as second gasman for the #17 team on raceday.(RFR)(7-2-2016)

Drivers hopeful new rules mean better racing at Michigan: Optimism remains high for the lower downforce rules package in place for Sunday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. "Well, I think that we made a pretty good step forward with the move we made from the 2015 to the 2016 package," said Scott Miller, NASCAR vice president of competition. "For aerodynamics in making more competitive racing and closer competition, more passes for the lead. In most cases all the metrics we looked at have been better in those areas. So this is just another step toward, again, creating closer competition and great racing that the fans and the media and everybody wants to see. We want to see that really bad, and I think this direction has been something that's been embraced by the drivers, and actually we've worked together with them to land here and try this for this year as a potential way to move forward with closer competition."
Friday's practice and qualifying sessions saw higher speeds through both the corners and down the straightaways with average speeds topping 200 mph. However, while reaction has been mostly favorable, there is still much to be observed before gauging whether the rules are successfully reaching goals.
"And as far as today, I think it's difficult to visually see the difference, but when you look at the data from the cars, the speed trace is significantly different, the mid corner speeds are down a lot, the entry speeds are up a little," Miller explained. "And from some of the driver comments, having to use the brakes pretty hard and maybe even thinking about needing brake cooling and everything at a big track like this is a departure from where we've been before, and we're really hoping that those things actually produce a really, really good race on Sunday."
But as of now, it's still very much a guessing game. "What I'm anticipating is hopefully a lot of slipping and sliding; a loss of momentum, and the ability to stack up some guys and to get a big run from third, fourth, fifth on back," Kurt Busch said. "That's what we hope we see and that we don't have a leader that just gets out there and then we're not able to chase him down. And then the restarts are going to be that much more exciting because of the lack of downforce and how stable will the cars be side-by-side? Nobody knows that yet."(Motor Racing Network)AND NASCAR Sprint Cup owner Jack Roush was not happy with the series' decision to use new rules to the aerodynamic package to further reduce downforce and sideforce for this weekend's FireKeepers Casino 400 race at Michigan International Speedway. "It's different from what it was, no doubt," said the 74-year-old Roush of the new rules package. "Nobody had been on the race track with this package before. Everybody is struggling to find out where the sensitive adjustments are. The car has not been as loose as we expected. We thought that the problem would be flying out from underneath of you, loose on exit and entry. The entry has been a little bit of a problem, but the exit and center has not been a bigger problem than normal." Roush's three-car team of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (12th), Trevor Bayne (13th) and Greg Biffle (18th) all qualified outside the top-10 Friday.(Detroit News)(6-12-2016)

Ford working with Roush to improve: Ford Performance boss Dave Pericak is convinced Roush Fenway Racing will soon return to victory lane. The legendary Ford NASCAR team has not won a race since [Sonoma in 2014]. Team owner Jack Roush and his current Cup drivers Biffle, Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are as dedicated as ever to turning things around, said Pericak, who took over as global director of Ford Performance from Jamie Allison last year. "I've been in the job for over a year and I've said we've been going to fix Roush," said Pericak, chief engineer of the Ford Mustang from 2008-2015. "The cars this year have speed in them but the team has had trouble executing on pit road. I think they've definitely ... shown a trend of improvement."
"As it is today, Jack Roush is not happy about the situation," said Pericak, who will leave Tuesday for France to oversee the Ford GT40's return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car classic. "But he's 100% committed to improving the team and his spirits are high."
Pericak will be at MIS [Friday] to observe NASCAR's new lower down force package for the track. "It will be a wait and see thing," said Pericak of the aerodynamic package which NASCAR believes will promote closer and better racing with more passing. "I think we are headed in the right direction and we're hoping for better racing. At the end of the day, I think it allows drivers to drive the car." Ford drivers have been using a state-of-the-art simulator in Charlotte, N.C., running the lower down force package for MIS.(Detroit Free Press)(6-10-2016)

SunnyD back on the #17 at Pocono: SunnyD is back on the #17 Ford this weekend in Pocono. With that, driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is launching a campaign to have his fans "Share a SunnyD" with a friend. By tagging a friend on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #ShareASunnyD, fans will enter themselves and a friend to win special SunnyD prize packs. The SunnyD six days of giveaways begin Tuesday afternoon and will culminate in the Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 at Pocono Raceway. Prizes include SunnyD beverages, hats, koozies and lanyards to name a few. "I'm excited to head to Pocono with SunnyD on our car for the second time this season," said Stenhouse. "They're a really fun brand to be aligned with and everything they're doing this week with the fans is really cool." Roush Fenway Racing has added a NASCAR twist to a 90's commercial classic, remaking the iconic 'purple stuff' SunnyD TV commercial with a unique NASCAR flavor. The remake stars NASCAR champions Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chris Buescher, along with FOX NASCAR personalities Andrew Doud and Kaitlyn Vincie. Vincie plays the part of 'Misses V' - an unforgettably cheerful lady with a great smile and seemingly endless supply of Sunny D - while Doud delivers the unforgettable classic line "Mega gnarly Misses V."(RFR), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page (6-1-2016)

Stenhouse Jr. to make his 125th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Start: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will make his 125th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the same track where he got his first NSCS start in 2011 driving the legendary #21 machine earning a respectable 11th - place finish as a rookie. With 14 races remaining before the NSCS Chase cut-off, Stenhouse is just a mere 10 points out of 16th place. "Charlotte has always been a special place to me," Stenhouse said. "In 2011, I got my first Sprint Cup start there in the famed #21. It was an honor to race for the Wood Brothers with their rich history in NASCAR. I earned my best finish of 11th here that year so hopefully we can improve this weekend and earn a top-10 finish." In his previous 124 NSCS starts, the two-time XFINITY champion earned his best career finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2014 finishing second behind former Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards after an unexpected caution came with two laps remaining followed by a rain shower.(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-26-2016)

Roush Fenway Racing Announces Multi-Year Extension with Fastenal: Roush Fenway Racing has secured a multi-year partnership extension with primary partner the Fastenal Company that will continue Fastenal's position as the anchor partner of the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. As part of the extension, Fastenal will also increase the number of its primary races in 2017 and beyond. "We are really excited to announce that Fastenal will remain the anchor partner of the #17 team for years to come," said driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. "Fastenal is a first-class organization with values that align completely with myself and this race team. We've seen a lot of improvement across the board this year. We are very happy that Fastenal will continue to be a part of the momentum at Roush Fenway. There has been a lot of hard work and effort put into this team and our goal and expectation is to reward Fastenal with a trip to victory lane and the Chase in the near future." Fastenal is currently in its fifth season as a primary partner in Roush Fenway's Sprint Cup stable, and its second full season as the anchor partner on Stenhouse's #17 Ford Fusion.
"To have a company of the caliber of Fastenal recognize the long-term value of a partnership with Roush Fenway, Ricky and the #17 team is gratifying for our entire organization," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "During our relationship, Fastenal has created and implemented a robust and impactful motorsports marketing program, and we are thrilled to have Fastenal continue to be a key part of the Roush Fenway family now and in the future." Fastenal, which boasts 2,600 stores nationwide, first joined Roush Fenway as a primary partner in 2010 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
"We are truly looking forward to continuing our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing as the anchor sponsor of the #17," said Fastenal President and CEO Dan Florness. "Ricky has done an excellent job representing our brand - both on and off the track - and we are extremely proud of the relationship we have built with Ricky, Jack Roush and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing. Extending our partnership reflects our belief in Roush Fenway Racing. The NASCAR program has helped us grow our business and excite our employees, and we feel a strong connection with the NASCAR community and fan base."(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-25-2016)

Roush not likely to move back to 4 cars soon: Now that the organization is headed back in the right direction when it comes to their performance, Roush president Steve Newmark said Sunday the focus is on the immediate future of fighting for a Chase berth and not what their driver lineup is going to be. With three drivers running full-time in the XFINITY Series, three more under their banner in Cup, and Chris Buescher on loan to Front Row Motorsports, decisions will soon have to be made of who is running where. When the company felt [Buescher] was ready to be in Cup instead of running a third year in the XFINITY Series, they coordinated with Bob Jenkins and Front Row, who Buescher was already familiar with, to compete in their camp. In a perfect world, admitted Newmark, Roush will get him back under their roof sooner rather than later. "There's a combination of factors that will go into that," he said. "Ideally, we'll have him in one of our cars in the next few years, but I think the focus right now is we got to get him running better in the 34." Under NASCAR's new ownership rules of only being able to run four full-time cars, plus the addition of the Charter System this year, Roush has been in a box. The chance of ever going back to four full-time cars looks slim, but Newmark won't close the door on any possibility. "Jack would rather run 10 cars; he would run as many cars as he would be enabled," Newmark joked. "It really will depend exactly on the driver, sponsorship, and then now you also have to have a charter, so I don't think we would run a (fourth) full-time, but you never know."(Popular Speed)(5-16-2016)

Waltrip inspired Throwback scheme for Stenhouse, Jr.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. knew exactly what iconic #17 car he wanted to race in this year's Southern 500 Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway. It had to be the orange and white #17 that Darrell Waltrip drove to his first win in 1975. "Darrell Waltrip is one of the icons in our sport and has helped build NASCAR into the sport it is today," said Stenhouse. "It is a huge honor to be able to run the 1975 throwback paint scheme of Darrell's at Darlington. Darrell's last win was at Darlington so only seems fitting that we get his throwback paint scheme in victory lane on Labor Day weekend and have Darrell celebrate with us." Waltrip was 28 years old when he put the field two laps down in his orange and blue #17 on his way to victory lane at Nashville Speedway. He would go on to win a total of 84 Sprint Cup Series races and three Championships throughout a career that spanned three decades. "It's an honor to have this car run in the Southern 500," said Waltrip. "I got my first win at Nashville with that paint scheme but I got my last win in Darlington so it will be a special race weekend for me. I missed the throwback weekend in Darlington last year and regretted it. You can bet I won't miss this one and I'll be rooting for the 17!"(Roush Fenway Racing, see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(4-11-2017)

Three teams given written warnings for failing Phoenix inspections: Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams were warned for failing inspection at Phoenix International Raceway. #78-Martin Truex Jr. was given a written warning by NASCAR for failing NASCAR's Laser Inspection System twice in pre-race inspection. #38-Landon Cassill's car failed template inspection twice before qualifying at Phoenix and was given a warning. #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s car failed the Laser Inspection System three times in pre-race inspection and was given a warning and will lose 15 minutes of practice time on Friday at Auto Club Speedway. See the Phoenix Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(3-16-2016)

SunnyD to sponsor Stenhouse Jr. in 2016: Roush Fenway Racing announced that the iconic 50-year-old Sunny Delight brand will serve as a primary partner for five races with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during the 2016 season; four on his #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion and once as the two-time NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) champion makes his return to the NXS. "This is really awesome," said Stenhouse. "Who didn't grow up loving the bold taste of SunnyD? It's truly one of the most recognizable brands in the world and it's great to both have them on board as a partner and of course to have a big supply of SunnyD on hand at the track as the season moves into the hot, thirsty months of summer."
"We are extremely excited to bring the SunnyD brand and its loyal customer following to our Roush Fenway Racing NASCAR partnership," said Henk Hartong III, chairman & CEO of Brynwood Partners. "This is a platform that directly connects with the most brand-loyal fans in all of sports and we know it will connect on a high level with the NASCAR fans."
SunnyD will make its debut as the primary partner on Stenhouse's #17 Ford at Dover in May. It will also serve as the primary on the #17 at NSCS races at Pocono, Indianapolis and Charlotte. In addition, the two-time champion will make his return to the XFINITY Series at Phoenix, where he will carry SunnyD on the historic #60 Roush Fenway Mustang in November. This will not 'mark' the first time SunnyD has appeared on a Roush Fenway Ford. Mark Martin carried the Sunny Delight logo on the deck lid of his Ford Thunderbird during his heated championship battle with Dale Earnhardt in 1990.
Sunny Delight Beverages Co. (SDBC), based in Cincinnati, OH, was acquired by Brynwood Partners VII L.P, based in Greenwich, CT, in February 2016. SDBC is a leading producer, distributor and marketer of juices, juice drinks and flavored waters in North America. Its brands include the iconic SunnyD juice drink, Veryfine juices and drinks, and Fruit2O flavored and sparkling waters. The company operates four plants across the U. S. They service both refrigerated and shelf stable distribution systems and supply a wide range of customers in grocery, club, mass merchandise, convenience, dollar and drug channels (Roush Fenway Racing), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(3-1-2016)

Roush Yates already prepping for Stewart-Haas addition: The addition of Stewart-Haas Racing to Ford in 2017 will mean an increased workload for Roush Yates Engines, the company that supplies Ford power to teams in all three of NASCAR's national series. But it means much more than the 60 or so additional engines the supplier will have to produce, according to CEO Doug Yates. "For us, that's four more top-notch cars, opportunities to win races and championships," Yates said Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "But the work starts now because we've got to get ready for next year." Yates, son of famed engine builder and former team owner Robert Yates, said his company currently has approximately 250 engines in its fleet for Sprint Cup teams. "We'll start building them up but next year, with four cars will mean about 60 more engines... Today we build about 750 Cup, XFINITY and Truck engines a year. At our road race shop we build about 250 a year. Obviously we will have to add some people. We feel like we have a good process, we just have to add volume." The benefit, he said, is it will be "a good opportunity to allow us to bring on more resources for the R&D side, more testing, more engineers. Just add depth to every department. It's exciting.(NASCAR.com)(2-28-2016)

Roush cars forced to change rear gears: During the first practice, #6-Trevor Bayne and #16-Greg Biffle experienced rear gear issues. The rear gears were replaced and both Bayne and Biffle will start from the rear of the first Can-Am Duel on Thursday.(Motorsport)(2-18-2016)

February 14th Marks the Anniversary of Roush Fenway's entry into NASCAR: While across the world, Feb. 14th annually marks the celebration of St. Valentines Day, the date holds a different significance for Jack Roush and the Roush Fenway Racing team. It marks the anniversary of Roush's first foray into the world of NASCAR; his first race at the highest level of automobile racing and a day that would serve as the launch pad for one of the most successful organizations in professional sports history. Competing with a backup car not even built for a superspeedway, Roush and his newly formed team covered only 19 laps before overheating and finishing 41st in its debut Daytona 500 on Feb. 14, 1988. Humble beginnings for a team which 29 years later has accumulated a NASCAR record 322 wins and hoisted championships in all three of NASCAR's highest levels of competition.
"We wrecked our car in the twin qualifying race and had to run a car that was built for a smaller track," said Roush of the day. "We went with what we had and of course did not yield the results we would have liked for your intro to NASCAR that day."
"We made the race on time," said driver Mark Martin, who piloted the #6 Stroh's Ford Thunderbird in Roush Fenway's inaugural season and held the ride for the next 19 seasons. "Then we got wrecked in the Twin-125's and we didn't have a backup speedway car, so we used the Atlanta car for the race. We didn't last 20 laps."
The results would quickly improve however, with Roush and Martin winning a pole that season and earning 10 top-10 finishes. The next season Roush Fenway won six poles, earning 19 top-10 finishes and its first win in 1989, breaking through to the win column in the fall at Rockingham. Roush Fenway would go on to earn its first NASCAR championship in 2000 and its first Cup championship in 2003. Ironically, 25 years later Roush would earn his historic 300th NASCAR [Cup, XFINITY & Trucks] victory in the 2012 Daytona 500; the same event his car had lasted only 19 laps a quarter of a century earlier. Today, Roush's teams have competed in 5,579 NASCAR events, holding the record for most NASCAR wins, most NASCAR wins in the Nationwide Series and most NASCAR wins in the Truck Series.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-15-2016)

SRI Performance Purchases Roush Yates Performance Products:Roush Yates Performance Products announced that it has reached an agreement with SRI Performance in which SRI will now own, operate, and manage the performance parts distribution business previously owned and operated by Roush Yates Performance Products. With this new agreement, beginning January 1, 2016, SRI will operate out of two locations in Mooresville, NC. Each location will represent a distinctly different product offering.(roushyatesparts.com)(1-5-2016)

Cargill Beef (3 race) is scheduled to be the primary sponsor at the following races in 2015:
Darlington - 9/6, David Pearson throwback scheme
Richmond 9/12, Sam's Club
Phoenix 11/15, Sam's Club

Juicy Juice (1 race) is scheduled to be the primary sponsor at the following races in 2015:
Charlotte - 10/10

Stenhouse wins USAC Midget race in DuQuoin: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. conjured memories of his breakout 2007 USAC season Saturday night as he passed Bryan Clauson with three laps to go to win the inaugural Junior Knepper 55 USAC midget special event at the indoor Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, Ill. Stenhouse was caught up in a lap-one logjam, but recovered after restarting the event in the 20th and last position before making his way forward to the $3,000 payday. After heat races and qualifying races accumulated finish and passing points to set feature lineups, Bryan Clauson earned the pole, but fellow front-row starter Tyler Thomas looped his mount in turn-one to set off the six-car stack-up. Clauson finished second in the Rusty Kunz/Joe Dooling Racing - B&H Contractors #63 Spike/Stanton Mopar. Bayston held off Andrew Felker by .045 seconds to finish third in the Bryan Clauson Racing - Priority Aviation Services #39 Spike/Esslinger.(NSSN)(12-21-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing Bolsters Competition Effort: Roush Fenway Racing has bolstered its competitive efforts with three key personnel additions to its NASCAR team. Kurt Romberg, Dr. Kent Day and Vojin Jaksic have each taken on high-level roles within the team that captured its eighth NASCAR championship in 2015. "It takes great talent to win in this sport and we are very pleased with the additions we have made on the competition front," said team owner Jack Roush. "We recognize the importance of putting the appropriate personnel into place, as we continue our relentless pursuit to put the best and most competitive race teams on the track."Kurt Romberg, who spent the last 15 years heading up aerodynamics at Hendrick Motorsports, joins the team as the Technical Director of Aerodynamics. Romberg worked with General Motors and Petty Enterprises before becoming the chief aerodynamicist at Hendrick.Dr. Kent Day will serve as Manager of Simulation. Day, who holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University, brings over two decades of experience to Roush Fenway and has held technical director positions with Team Penske and RCR and most recently specialized in vehicle dynamics at MWR.Vojin Jaksic returns to Roush Fenway Racing as the research and development/special projects manager after serving in similar positions at MWR and Joe Gibbs Racing. Jaksic previously worked at Roush Fenway Racing from 2005 until 2011.
The additions are part of a strategic plan to expand organizational capabilities and follows the hiring of industry veterans Mark McArdle and Kevin Kidd to lead engineering and Sprint Cup competition last season.(Roush Fenway Racing)(12-15-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing restructures: Change is coming to Roush Fenway Racing. After the dissolution of the #1 XFinity Series team following Elliott Sadler's departure, RFR "right-sized" its NXS program on Monday. However, despite the release of a significant number of employees, others will be hired as RFR restructures its organization. Kent Day, who holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and most recently worked at MWR following his tenures at Richard Childress Racing as technical director and Penske Racing as chief engineer. Day will oversee Roush's simulation program. Kurt Romberg has also been recruited by RFR. Romberg was the chief aerodynamicist at Hendrick Motorsports for 15 years. He worked at General Motors and Petty Enterprises prior to joining HMS. Someone with knowledge of the situation told motorsport.com the net loss of personnel would likely be 25 workers.(Motorsport)(11-24-2015)

Cargill / Sam's Club featured on the #17 at Phoenix: The #17 Cargill Beef Ford will feature a special Sam's Club paint scheme this weekend at Phoenix. Cargill Beef first featured a Sam's Club scheme in 2011 during Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s first championship season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. In 2012, Stenhouse drove the Cargill Beef/Sam's Club Ford to victory lane in Kansas for his sixth win en route to his second XFINITY Series title. "We love running the Sam's Club paint scheme for Cargill Beef because it's such a recognizable logo and we've had a great history with both partners on our cars," said Stenhouse. "This year the car has a little different look than we've run in the past with a little more white on it so I think the fans will definitely notice the #17 in Phoenix." Cargill Beef has a longstanding history of supplying quality beef to Sam's Club members across the country. "We've had a successful partnership with Roush Fenway racing for several years that has included multiple wins and two championships," said Tammy Shaw, Vice-President, Cargill Beef Marketing. "We are pleased to once again include Sam's Club in our NASCAR program on the #17 Ford. The great American tradition of tailgate grilling is in full swing and we're proud to be a part of it by supplying quality beef to Sam's Club members."(Roush Fenway Racing), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(11-13-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing 'Driven' to Highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October: Roush Fenway Racing is going pink in October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team will run special pink 'Driven For a Cause' decals on all of its NASCAR Fords for all races during the month. In addition, four of the Roush Fenway Fords will feature 'pink' themed cars this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including the Sprint Cup Fusions of Trevor Bayne and Greg Biffle and the XFINITY Series Mustangs of Elliott Sadler and Bubba Wallace. Sadler's car featured a pink steering wheel, in addition to his pink fire suit. Sadler has a personal connection to the effects of breast cancer. His mother, Bell, is a breast cancer survivor and each year Sadler has done something different to help spread awareness of breast cancer and help raise money for breast cancer research. Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY drivers Chris Buescher, who currently leads the XFINITY Series Championship standings, and Wallace recently showed their support for breast cancer awareness by participating in an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway where breast cancer survivors and supporters came together to paint the pit walls pink at the speedway.
During Roush Fenway's annual fall Fan Appreciation Day, the team set up a 'Driven For a Cause photo booth where fans were encouraged to show support for breast cancer awareness by snapping 'selfies' in various pink attire. Team owner Jack Roush and several of the team's drivers took photos in the booth helping to raise awareness via social media. Fans were also encouraged to download the Early Detection Plan app to help remind them to regularly schedule exams for early detection of breast cancer.(RFR)(10-10-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing to Host Annual Fall Fan Day on October 8: Roush Fenway Racing will host its annual Fall Fan Appreciation day at its home base in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, October 8. The event is open to the public and will include autograph sessions with Roush Fenway's Cup and XFINITY drivers, as well as Jack Roush. "We love our fans here at Roush Fenway Racing," said Roush Fenway President, Steve Newmark. "These fans are always cheering on our drivers at races all over the country and their support never waivers. Fan Day here at Roush is the perfect opportunity to show them how much we appreciate them. This event gives us the means to welcome them to our home here, show them around, and to let them meet the drivers that they are so passionate in supporting."
In addition to autograph sessions, there will be a 'Driven for the Cause' photo booth set up where fans can snap selfies to show their support for breast cancer awareness. Fans are also encouraged to download the Early Detection Plan app to help remind them to regularly schedule exams for early detection of breast cancer. The retail store and museum will be open to fans, where they can take advantage of sales promotions to win items autographed by the Roush Fenway drivers. In addition various Roush Fenway partners will be on hand sampling products.
SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will host a live broadcast during Fan Day on their popular Mid-Day Drive show with hosts Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers; The Roush Fenway drivers and Jack Roush will be featured as quests. Roush Fenway fans are invited to take part in the event through social media, using the hashtag #RFRFanDay. This hashtag will give fans a behind the scenes look at the annual event through social media platforms Periscope and Twitter.Autograph session tickets will be distributed at 8:00 a.m. and are available only through a first-come, first-served format. Autograph sessions will begin at 10:00 a.m. with Jack Roush and NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. Roush Fenway's NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Reed will start their autograph session at 11:30 a.m.
What: Roush Fenway Racing Fall 'Fan Appreciation Day'
Where: Roush Fenway Racing's Campus - 4600 Roush Place, Concord N.C. 28027
When: Thursday, October 8. Ticket distribution to start at 8:00 a.m. Fan Day runs until 3:00 p.m.

Roush Fenway Racing Inspired and 'Driven for Elijah':Roush Fenway Racing will honor the courageous fight of 10-year old Elijah Aschenbrenner this weekend, running special "Driven for Elijah" decals on all seven of its NASCAR Fords in races at Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire Speedway. Elijah, whose mother is a former employee at Roush Fenway Racing, has been battling Epitheliod Sarcoma cancer since May 2014 - with his heroic fight garnering an emotional outpouring from communities including NASCAR and other professional sports. Almost 40,000 people have visited Elijah's blog on Facebook with his most recent video message receiving over 350,000 views. This week alone Elijah has received calls of support from Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, and Auburn University football coach Gus Malzahn -- whose team has dedicated this week's game to the brave young man who has inspired so many. Join in supporting Elijah on social media, using the hashtag #prayersforelijah and learn more about his battle at Facebook.(RFR)(9-26-2015)

#17 Cargill Beef Ford to feature Sam's Club for two races: The #17 Cargill Beef Ford Fusion will feature a special Sam's Club paint scheme this weekend at Richmond. Cargill Beef first featured a Sam's Club scheme in 2011 during Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s first championship season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. In 2012, Stenhouse drove the Cargill Beef/Sam's Club Ford to victory lane in Kansas for his sixth win en route to his second XFINITY Series title. The Sam's Club scheme will also run on the #17 Cargill Beef Ford at Phoenix in November. "We love running the Sam's Club paint scheme for Cargill Beef because it's such a recognizable logo and we've had a great history with both partners on our cars," said Stenhouse. "This year the car has a little different look than we've run in the past with a little more white on it so I think the fans will definitely notice the #17 in Richmond and Phoenix." Cargill Beef has a longstanding history of supplying quality beef to Sam's Club members across the country.(RFR), see images of the car/scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(9-9-2015)

Stenhouse Jr. Will Make His 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Start at Bristol: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will make his 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start this weekend at Bristol, a track where he has seen success scoring two top-five and three top-10 finishes in his last three starts. "I'm really looking forward to Bristol this weekend and can't think of a better track to have my 100th Sprint Cup start," Stenhouse said. "I think the night race at Bristol is one of the best short-track races of our season. After finishing fourth in the spring, I'm looking forward to Saturday night. Hopefully we can get our Fastenal Ford into victory lane, which would be their first Sprint Cup Series win along as my first Sprint Cup win." In March of 2014, with less than 80 laps remaining, the Olive Branch, Miss. native restarted fourth and steadily marched his way up through the field, setting his sights on teammate Carl Edwards who was leading the 500-lap race. After an unexpected caution came with two laps remaining followed by a rain shower, Stenhouse settled for a second-place finish; his best career NSCS finish.(RFR)(8-21-2015)

Stenhouse Unveils Iconic #17 Pearson Scheme for Darlington: A NASCAR 'Throwback' weekend at Darlington Raceway and a #17 Ford canvas made for an undeniable invitation for a David Pearson Ford Torino retro paint scheme. As Pearson remains the winningest driver at Darlington with 10 trips to victory lane at the historic track, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his sponsor Cargill Beef were honored with the opportunity. "David Pearson is not only an icon in our sport, he is one of the greatest racers of all time," said Stenhouse. "He knew how to save his car for when it counted and that's why he had over 100 wins. From the time I thought this paint scheme might be a possibility, I have been counting the days to get that car on the track at Darlington. I only hope I do it justice."
The gold and blue paint scheme that will run on the #17 Roush Fenway entry in Darlington is the scheme that Pearson drove to two Grand National Championships in 1968 and 1969 for Holman Moody. Two of his 10 Darlington wins were also with the gold and blue Torino in 1968 & 1970. "Seeing the car that Stenhouse is running in Darlington brought back some great memories," recalled Pearson. "We won a lot of races with that paint scheme. I think bringing back some of these old paint schemes is a great way to remind a new generation about some of the best years in NASCAR history."
Cargill's "For the Love of Meat" messaging is all about celebrating how meat fits into the American culture and nothing is more American than a Throwback NASCAR race in Darlington on Labor Day weekend. "As soon as the folks at Roush Fenway told us about the throwback weekend in Darlington, we knew we wanted to be a part of it," said Mike Martin, director of communications. "All diehard NASCAR fans know of the 'Silver Fox' and his accomplishments and we're honored to have our logo on the car for what promises to be a memorable race weekend." Cargill Beef is also launching a social media photo contest that fans can enter by sharing their best beef grilling moments with the hashtag #FortheLoveofBeef. Fans who participate will be entered to win autographed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. merchandise. The contest will run from August 18th through the Darlington race weekend.
The tradition returns to Labor Day weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 is set for Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 5. Tickets are on sale now by calling 866-459-7223 or visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway). See images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2015)

Roush says Buescher ready for Cup: Thursday morning, Chris Buescher received a phone call from his father, who had questions about what Jack Roush had said about his son in an interview Wednesday night on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "How come you haven't told me any of this?" he asked. "Because I didn't know any of this," Chris responded. "Well, you need to go listen to this." When Buescher did, he heard Roush, his Xfinity Series team owner, say he is "ready" for the Sprint Cup. Roush said it would be "sooner, rather than later" when the 22-year-old leading the Xfinity points standings with 13 races left would be in a Sprint Cup ride full time. "I stop short of saying it's 2016, but there is a consideration, discussion going on about the prospect of getting him in a car," Roush said told Sirius XM host Claire B. Lang. "If not one of my cars, one of the other Ford cars that would be competitive and competing in 2016. He may very well be in one of my Sprint Cup cars. It's just a matter of sponsorship and business considerations." Buescher has spent time with one of those Ford teams this years, racing for Front Row Motorsports in six events, most recently a 37th Sunday at Watkins Glen International. In 2015, Buescher has two Xfinity wins and nine top-five finishes, in addition to his 2014 win at Mid-Ohio which he will attempt to defend this weekend.
In an April interview with NASCAR Talk at Texas Motor Speedway, Roush said Buescher winning a championship "would certainly grease the skids for him. He's two to three years out at the very most." Roush then left open the possibility of fielding a fourth Sprint Cup car. "We've got three Cup cars, so we got another open slot. The 99's number is not being used right now, and I'd like to put it back on the race track," Roush said, referring to the number used by Carl Edwards since 2004 before joining Joe Gibbs Racing this season. "We'll let the 99 have a little air and then we'll create an opportunity for it as well."(NBC Sports)(8-14-2015)

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Accident Quotes: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. commented on the accident he was involved in at Pocono Raceway on lap 27 during thew Windows 10 400 Sprint Cup Series race. Stenhouse Jr. finished 41st.
"Everything was happening real fast. I saw the 9 in turn three run up the track and I thought he just got loose and everything was fine but getting into turn one the car in front of me ducked out at the last minute and there was the 9 sitting and I got on the brakes really hard. I think it got on the splitter and couldn't go left or right and just ran right into him. It is not a good day for us. I thought I had a car that could pass some other cars and we did that until that yellow and then we got shuffled back. It is a tough way to end the day that way. We thought we would have a better day than that. I guess the 9 missed a shift or something and I wasn't aware of it until the 35 or one of the other cars pulled out real quick and there was the 9 sitting there. By the time I reacted it was just too late and I ran right back into him." Q) HOW INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING HAS THIS WEEKEND BEEN FOR YOU?Stenhouse Jr.: "Yeah, it has been really bad. We started off really slow and struggling with the handing of our cars. We got it better at the end of final practice and made it up to 27th there during that caution and then we came in and took fuel and were coming back through there and get involved in that wreck. It is a frustrating weekend and a frustrating year but we will continue to work to get our cars better and continue to plug away."(Ford Racing)(8-2-2015)

Cargill returns to sponsor Stenhouse Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that long-standing partner Cargill Beef will return to the #17 team with NASCAR Champion driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2015. Cargill will serve as a primary partner for multiple races on the #17 beginning with the famed Southern 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway on Sept 6. As part of the Darlington 'Throwback" initiative the paint scheme for the race will feature a 'special' retro look, which is sure to be a fan favorite. Details on the paint scheme will be released at a later date. "I'm thrilled to have Cargill back this season with the #17 team," said Stenhouse. "They have been an outstanding partner with Roush Fenway for the past five seasons and with our team in both the XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series. I can't think of a better way to welcome them back this season, than going for the trophy in one of my favorite all-time races, the Southern 500 at Darlington."
"We are pleased to announce the continuation of our successful partnership with Roush Fenway Racing and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.," said John Keating, president of Cargill Beef. "Beef is a perfect choice for NASCAR racing fans everywhere. NASCAR fans have proven to be brand loyal, and this partnership provides us the avenue to make Cargill Beef products their top choice."
Cargill first teamed with Roush Fenway in 2010, joining Stenhouse during his rookie of the year season in the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES and continued to serve as a primary partner during Stenhouse's back-to-back NXS Championships in 2011 and 2012. Last season they made the move to Sprint Cup racing with Stenhouse and the #17 team. "Cargill has been an outstanding partner for the past five seasons," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "In 2010 they took a chance on a young and unproven driver in Ricky, and they went on to play a pivotal role in his XFINITY Series Championship seasons. They made the move up to Sprint Cup last season and they continue to play a major role with the #17 and Ricky."
In addition to serving as a primary partner with Stenhouse in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, Cargill teamed with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in 2013 in the XFINITY Season, before moving up to the Sprint Cup Series with Stenhouse last year. "The enthusiasm we have experienced from our customers, employees and race fans during our time with Roush Fenway Racing has confirmed that high quality beef products and NASCAR racing fit perfectly together," said Tammy Shaw, Cargill Beef vice president of marketing. "And we are extremely excited to once again extend our relationship and to make our 2015 debut with Ricky and the team at Darlington. We look forward to another terrific season with Roush Fenway and Ricky, as we continue to find unique ways to market our products and support our customers through NASCAR."(RFR)(6-25-2015)

Ford seeks to improve teams' success; not interested in adding teams: New Global Ford Performance Director Dave Pericak said Sunday that the company is committed to increased success and performance across all of its racing platforms, including NASCAR. Joined by Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski at Michigan International Speedway, Pericak discussed a number of things, including working to improve the performance of Roush Fenway Racing, the evolution of Ford Racing into Ford Performance and the company's promising new GT entry that will debut at Daytona next February. Some excerpts:Working to improve performance of Roush Fenway Racing: "We are with Jack (Roush) all the time, and we spend a lot of time with Jack's team and we are making all the right, I believe, changes within not only the Roush Fenway organization but as we apply our technical resources within Ford Performance, assisting Jack and his team to get to a better place. We have seen progress. We are excited about what we have seen so far. Obviously we need to see more, but we are confident that Jack is dedicated with his team to do that. We are partners in this and our goal is to make them perform better and we are expecting a better performance today."
What in particular are you working on with RFR? "We are working with them on all aspects of the race car and not only the car but driver training or just everything that is involved in getting a race car to perform on the track. It is all aspects. There is nothing that is not on the table. Jack has welcomed all of the support and help and we have seen some significant improvement as a result of that."Are you satisfied with the current roster of Ford teams, and have you talked to Furniture Row Racing (about moving from Chevrolet to Ford): "What I would say is that we are very happy with the partners we have today, and we have an approach where we are working to get everybody's performance up and we are committed to doing that. We believe in long-term partners and believe we have the right people that we are with currently."(NBC Sports)(6-15-2015)

Roush questions NASCAR inspection process: Team owner Jack Roush questions the consistency of NASCAR's laser platform, raising issues with an inspection process noteworthy for the numerous warnings issued teams this season. Cars must go through NASCAR's laser platform for inspection at the start of the weekend, before qualifying and before the race. The laser platform logs measurements of various parts, including front and rear wheel camber, wheel base and rear axle location. The laser platform can record measurements within 1/1,000th of an inch in some cases. Controversy has surrounded NASCAR's inspection process and the platform this season. Roush raised issues about the laser platform Wednesday night on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's "Dialed In" show when asked about inspection issues this season. "That laser machine is also a problem because it's recognized and understood by everybody that either operates it or either inspected by it ... it is not consistent, it does not repeat 100 percent of the time," Roush said. "It is off. We don't know why it's off. Sometimes, we think maybe the humidity has something to do with it. The temperature may have something to do with it. It does not always give you the same answer for the same set of circumstances on the car dimensionally. That's caused NASCAR to increase the tolerance sometimes. So if you've got something that varies and they give you a tolerance to take care of the variance and you're a racer, then you try to use the tolerance in your favor to make your car better." NASCAR declined comment.(NBC Sports)(6-12-2015)

Juicy Juice sponsoring Stenhouse at Charlotte: Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will team with Juicy Juice for the Oct. 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Stenhouse carrying the brand on his #17 Ford Fusion in what has traditionally played out as one of the most exciting events in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. "Growing up there was nothing better than grabbing a Juicy Juice box," said Stenhouse. "It's going to be great to have them on our #17 Ford Fusion in Charlotte. It's a great looking paint scheme. It will look great under the lights and the fans are going to love seeing it on the track."(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(6-3-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing to Host Annual Spring Fan Day on May 21: Roush Fenway Racing will host its annual spring fan day at its world headquarters in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, May 21. The event is open to the public and will feature autograph sessions with each of Roush Fenway's seven NASCAR drivers. "We say it each year, but this event is really the perfect opportunity to show our fans how much we appreciate them," said Roush Fenway President Steve Newmark. "We see these fans cheering on our drivers at race tracks across the country, and this is our opportunity to welcome them to our home, show them around and give them the opportunity to meet our drivers and the partners who play such a vital role in what we do each weekend at the track." In addition to the Roush Fenway show cars on site, more than a dozen partner displays will be on hand, with partners handing out samples, setting up simulation pods and tire-changing units, as well as interacting with the fans that support Roush Fenway and the sport of NASCAR. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will again broadcast its famed Mid-Day Drive show live from the event with popular host Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers, featuring visits with the Roush Fenway drivers. Former Miss Sprint Cup Monica Palumbo will be the official emcee for the day's events and Roush Fenway #16 XFINITY Series hauler driver Jay Maybry and his band JBird and the Congregation will perform live music throughout the day. Roush Fenway fans are also encouraged to take part in the event through social media using the hashtag #RFRFanDay, and the team will give fans a behind the scenes look at the event throughout the day via Periscope and Twitter. Autograph sessions will kick off at 10 a.m. with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Greg Biffle. Roush Fenway's NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Bubba Wallace, Ryan Reed, Chris Buescher and Elliott Sadler will sign autographs at 11:00 a.m.
Autograph session tickets will be on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 8 a.m.
What: Roush Fenway Racing Spring 'Fan Appreciation Day'
Where: Roush Fenway Racing Campus - 4600 Roush Place, Concord N.C. 28027
When: Thursday, May 21, 2014. Tickets distribution begins at 8:00 a.m. Fan Appreciation Day runs until 3:00 pm.(RFR)(5-1-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing Bolsters Sales and Marketing Lineup: Roush Fenway Racing announced the hiring of three key executives to its marking team, bolstering its efforts in business development, strategic marketing and event marketing. The team has named Brian Cleek as senior vice president of sales and business development. Cleek brings over 12 years of proven partnership development experience, having worked for some of the most successful properties in professional sports, including the NFL, the New York Giants, ESPN, the Harlem Globetrotters and most recently the PGA of America and Ryder Cup.
Roush Fenway also announced the additions of Bruce Mosley and Stacie Brenner to its executive team. Mosley, a seasoned sales and marketing expert, has joined the team as vice president of strategic marketing. He brings over 20 years of related experience to the position and was instrumental in successful NASCAR related retail activation programs with Kroger, Walmart, Sunoco and Office Depot. Mosley began his motorsports career as director of sponsorship with International Speedway Corporation, focusing on sponsorship and MRN media sales, and later oversaw the NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light Racing team sponsorship program. Mosley also serves as Executive in Residence for Belmont Abbey College's Motorsports Management Program.
Brenner, who most recently served as the director of business development/account services at Keystone Marketing, has been named director of event marketing at Roush Fenway. Brenner brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and event management to the position and will oversee Roush Fenway's event marketing and show car departments. During her robust marketing career she has worked with companies that include; Octagon, Nextel, Sprint, Hanes Brands and Mondelez International.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-13-2015)

Gilliland's team withdraws from Sprint Unlimited; Stenhouse, Jr. in: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the fourth driver to be added to Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited to fill the 25-car field. Stenhouse is in the race after #38-David Gilliland's team withdrew. A spokesperson for Front Row Motorsports said the team did not have sponsorship for the event and elected to skip it. Others who were eligible to compete in the 75-lap exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway but won't are Brian Scott, Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger.(NBC Sports), see the complete entry list on the Sprint Unlimited race page.(2-9-2015)

Mark Martin no longer working with Roush Fenway UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Mark Martin, who was hired last July as a driver development coach for Roush Fenway Racing, is no longer with the organization. Asked Friday on Twitter if he would be working with RFR's crop of young drivers in the upcoming season, Martin responded, simply, "No." Martin, who drove for Roush Fenway from 1988-2006 -- the vast majority of his Sprint Cup career -- said at the time of his hiring as a driver development coach that he was happy to be reuniting with the organization where he earned 35 of his 40 career Sprint Cup wins. It was announced in mid-January that Martin, 56, has joined forces with late model dirt-racing legend Scott Bloomquist to field two entries in the Lucas Oil Late Model Championship in 2015. Bloomquist and up-and-coming driver Jared Landers will drive the two team cars, respectively, with both carrying sponsorship from Batesville, Ark.-based Mark Martin Automotive Group.(FoxSports)(2-7-2015)UPDATE: Mark Martin explained in a tweet Saturday morning why he no longer is working in a driver development role with Roush Fenway Racing. Martin tweeted: "I didn't want to go to the races. I've done enough of that for now. Except for dirt track." Martin answered a fan's question Friday on Twitter confirming that he was no longer serving as a coach for Roush. Saturday, he answered another fan's question as to why he wasn't coaching Roush's drivers.(NBC Sports)(2-8-2015)

Roush had a shot at Jeff Gordon: Fifteen years ago or so, while researching a NASCAR book, one of the people Tom Jensen interviewed was John Bickford, Jeff Gordon's stepfather and business manager. Bickford, who was the architect of Gordon's career from his early days as a kid in quarter midgets until Gordon was an established NASCAR star, had plenty of interesting stories. One of them surrounded how Gordon wound up in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. After growing up racing open-wheel cars on asphalt and dirt, Gordon ran two full seasons in what's now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 1991 and '92. And while Gordon is one of the most recognizable Chevrolet drivers today, in those days he drove Ford Thunderbirds owned by Bill Davis. Naturally, Ford Motor Co. was keen to see Gordon move up to Sprint Cup in a Ford.
According to Bickford, in 1992, NASCAR team owner Jack Roush called him up and told Bickford he wanted to hire Gordon. After a brief discussion, Bickford said he was amenable to the idea of Gordon driving for Roush and he had a great young crew chief named Ray Evernham who Bickford wanted to be part of the deal. "My drivers don't get to pick their own crew chiefs," Roush told Bickford. "I do that." Whereupon Bickford said he hung up the phone, because it was a package deal. Bickford knew Gordon and Evernham already had great chemistry and would be successful together. He didn't want Gordon to have to start over with a new crew chief.
Roush called back and said there must have been a problem with the phone and Bickford said, no, he had hung up on Roush deliberately. Upon hearing that, Roush went on to explain that if he was making the expensive and potentially risky investment in a promising, but unproven young talent, he had to have the comfort level of hiring the crew chief himself. That was the way Roush always worked in the past and the way he was going to work in the future. And that's when Bickford said he hung up on Roush a second time, and when negotiations between the two officially ended.(Tom Jensen / FoxSports)(1-25-2015)

Several NASCAR connections in the Chili Bowl: Three Sprint Cup drivers are among those with NASCAR ties entered in this week's Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, one of the biggest annual events for racers of sprint midget cars. Cup drivers #42-Kyle Larson, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and JJ Yeley will compete in the event at the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa. Qualifying races to set up the lineups for Saturday's championship day will run Tuesday-Friday for the more than 300 drivers in the event. Larson, Stenhouse and Yeley also will compete in a 16-driver invitation-only all-star event Tuesday night. Among those in the invitation-only event is four-time Chili Bowl champion Kevin Swindell, who has competed part-time in the XFINITY Series. Former Cup and Xfinity Series driver Kenny Wallace is competing for the first time in the event. Among other drivers with NASCAR connections competing are Xfinity drivers Tanner Berryhill and Ryan Ellis and Camping World Truck Series driver Cole Custer.(Sporting News)(1-13-2015)

Stenhouse Jr. running open wheel race UPDATE: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wants a checkered flag for Christmas - well, sort of. The Roush Fenway Racing driver will get back behind the wheel this Saturday, going back to his short-track, open-wheel roots in DuQuoin, Illinois. Stenhouse will compete in the fifth annual Great Clips Battle at the Center on the one-sixth Mini-Magic Mile at the Southern Illinois Center, located on the grounds of the DuQuoin State Fair. The Battle at the Center is a non-points all-star race put on by the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. It'll be Stenhouse's second bid to win at DuQuoin, having finished second in the inaugural Battle at the Center in 2010. He'll be driving for Bryan Clauson Racing as a tune-up of sorts for next month's Lucas Oil Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla., from Jan. 12-17. It'll be Stenhouse's third try to win the Chili Bowl, having finished ninth in 2012, but failed to advance out of the B feature last year. (NBC Sports)(12-20-2014)UPDATE: Going back to his midget car roots, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. shook off a couple of late-race mishaps to finish eighth in Saturday's fifth annual Great Clips Battle at the Center at the Southern Illinois Center of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Joey Saldana of Brownsburg, Indiana, led the last five laps of the 40-lap main event around the 1/6-mile racetrack to take home the victory in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series event. Bryan Clauson finished second, followed by Justin Peck, Spencer Bayston, Daniel Robinson, Andrew Felker, Kevin Ramey, Stenhouse, Tim Siner and Jody Rosenboom. On Lap 26, as Stenhouse tried to make a run for the lead, he was involved in a four-car tangle involving race leader Clauson, Christopher Bell (running second at the time) and 2012 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series champ Andrew Felker. With three laps left in the race, Stenhouse was collected in a six-car pileup that ended his hopes of a top-five finish, but still managed to wind up with a decent eighth-place showing in the 21-car field.(NBC Sports)(12-22-2014)

Yates Denies Rumors of Roush Fenway Buyout: Roush Yates Engines CEO Doug Yates responded yesterday (Dec 4th) to rumors that he will replace Jack Roush at the helm of Roush Fenway Racing when Roush steps down in the near future. "Jack is committed to NASCAR racing," said Yates, son of legendary NASCAR engine builder and team owner Robert Yates. "He loves two things besides his family; racing and flying airplanes. He is not planning to stop the racing part, anyway. I know that for a fact." Yates admitted, however, that he is interested in following his father into the ownership ranks one day. "It's flattering to hear my name out there (in the rumor mill) and if the right situation came along, I'd love to carry on what my dad started and what he accomplished. But right now, my focus is on building great engines for Ford Motor Company and making Ford and Roush proud. That's what I'm going to try to stick with and be focused on in the near future. Jack Roush is not going anywhere" he said, "...and one thing he's not going to do is quit before he gets (Roush Fenway Racing) back where he wants it." Yates also said Roush has been instrumental in his success as an engine builder, adding, "He's been really good to me... a lot like my dad. I've been so fortunate to learn and watch and be around him. He's taught me a lot."(Godfather Motorsports)(12-5-2014)

#17 team has parts confiscated, could face penalty UPDATES: NASCAR announced late Friday that officials have confiscated the rear-end suspension parts on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s #17 Ford Fusion after finding an issue during prequalifying inspection for Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Saturday afternoon that NASCAR will take Stenhouse's rear-end suspension back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation early next week. Any penalties resulting from the issue on Stenhouse's car will likely be handed down on Tuesday -- two days after the season's final race -- and could affect the final points standings.(FoxSports)(11-16-2014)UPDATE Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. faces a likely points penalty for rear suspension pieces confiscated during pre-qualifying inspection Friday. Pemberton said NASCAR will begin its review of the Stenhouse suspensions pieces Monday. Having unapproved rear suspension parts is considered a P5 penalty on NASCAR's penalty system, meaning it could be as much as a penalty of 50 points, a fine of up to $125,000 and a six-week suspension for crew chief Mike Kelley.(Sporting News)(11-17-2014)UPDATE 2: The #17 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered during pre-qualifying inspection Nov. 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This infraction is a P3 level penalty which is outlined in Section 12-4.3 of the 2014 NASCAR rule book:Violations resulting in P3 penalties tend to fall between serious and intermediate in nature. While they might include general "categories" of infractions similar to those in P4 (e.g. unauthorized parts; failing to meet specs; etc.), they tend to pertain more to secondary componentry or systems; modifications of lessor significance; go/no-go measurement failures of an intermediate nature.
This infraction violates Sections:
12-1 - Actions detrimental to stock car racing;
20-12 - Suspension: All front end and rear suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension/drive line component beyond normal rotation or suspension/drive line travel.
As a result of these violations, crew chief Mike Kelley has been fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for six months starting Jan. 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015. Additionally, car chief Patrick Magee has also been placed on NASCAR probation for six months starting Jan. 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015.(NASCAR)(11-20-2014)

Changes at Roush Fenway Racing UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing is taking steps to right the ship. On Wednesday, RFR will announce the addition of respected motosports manager Mark McArdle as engineering director. McArdle will oversee all engineering for the organization and report to general manager Robbie Reiser. "My role is to provide the organization with better vision, increased levels of direction and communication to allow all the available resources to work together to find the solutions to the basic core problem of car performance," McArdle said. McArdle most recently was director of racing operations at Richard Childress Racing. He held the position since the summer of 2013 after four seasons with Furniture Row Racing in Denver. The last two years at FRR, McArdle served as an intermediary in the teams' technical alliance. He moved back to North Carolina to be closer to his family - ultimately the reason McArdle chose to leave RCR and join RFR, which cuts his commute in half. McArdle acknowledged he was grateful for the opportunity with Richard Childress and still has tremendous respect for the organization. Although McArdle will join RFR at the track this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, he only expects to be on the road 25-percent of the time in order to focus on the challenges back at the Concord, N.C.-based shop.
RFR has also hired Kevin Kidd as its Sprint Cup team manager. Kidd, who currently oversees the #20 Nationwide Series team for Joe Gibbs Racing, earned an engineering degree at Virginia Tech. He also worked with McArdle as the race engineer on the #19 at Evernham Motorsports. Kidd's role will be similar to Eric Peterson, who was Roush Fenway's operations manager before overseeing the Nationwide Series program.(Motorsport)(11-5-2014)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has announced the hiring of two industry veterans to senior positions in its competition group. Mark McArdle will oversee engineering for the organization's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) teams. Kevin Kidd will serve as NSCS team manager, supervising at-track operations beginning next season for an organization that has placed multiple cars in the 'Chase' in all 10 seasons of the format's existence. "I'm confident that having Mark and Kevin in these two key positions will make our organization even stronger next season," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "Mark has a pedigree in racing that spans multiple platforms and speaks for itself in terms of results. He has a reputation not only for success, but as a great manager and motivator. Kevin is recognized in the garage as one of the brightest minds in our sport. He has acquired invaluable experience working with both veteran and young drivers, and will be a great asset to our Sprint Cup program week in and week out at the race track. We look forward to bringing both Mark and Kevin on board and welcoming them into the fold."
McArdle, a successful veteran of IndyCar and NASCAR racing, has been named engineering director and will directly oversee Roush Fenway's engineering efforts. A renowned engine builder, McArdle boasts three victories in the famed Indianapolis 500 with Penske Racing in 1991, 1993 and 1994, having worked with a litany of open-wheel legends including Ricky Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti. McArdle has spent the last 15 years working in NASCAR, having served in high-level positions with Roush Yates Engines, Evernham Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing and most recently as director of racing operation at Richard Childress Racing.
"Roush Fenway Racing has a tradition and history of success like none other in motorsports, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it," said McArdle. "I've always had a very deep respect for Jack Roush and his entire organization, and know that the expectation for him, his drivers, teams and sponsors is to win races and championships at every level. I look forward to becoming part of that winning tradition, and to continuing it in 2015 and beyond."
Kevin Kidd has been named NSCS team manager. He will join Roush Fenway after having served as the crew chief for the No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series team at Joe Gibbs Racing since 2010. During that time he guided his teams to nearly 90 top-10 finishes in 167 starts with veteran drivers such as Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, as well as a host of developmental drivers. "Roush Fenway is a perennial 'Chase' contender with three extremely talented drivers in the 2015 line-up," said Kidd. "All of the right resources are in position to place all three of those drivers into the 'Chase' next season, and that will be our goal. I've had a great deal of experience working with both veterans and younger drivers, and this organization has a great mix of that with Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. I look forward to the opportunity to work with each of them, their teams and everyone at Roush Fenway." Kidd will move into his new role at the conclusion of the 2014 season.(Roush Fenway Racing)(11-6-2014)

Roush cars to carry special decals on cars in Nov.: Throughout the month of November, Roush Fenway Racing will support partners Lilly Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association as they highlight American Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day (November 14). In addition to unique video and social content, the team will carry special decals on all six of its Fords in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series [#6, #16, #60] and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series [#16, #17, #99] during the month )of November). "Diabetes is obviously something that hits very close to home for me, so I really appreciate that our entire Roush Fenway team and partners are helping to raise awareness during the month of November," said Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop DiabetesSM presented by Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang (in the NNS). "I'm proud of the work that both the American Diabetes Association and Lilly Diabetes do, and am excited to draw more attention to that." Diabetes impacts nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States, with another 86 million having prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. American Diabetes Month takes place each November, with the goal of raising awareness of this ever-growing epidemic, with programs designed to focus the nation's attention on the issues surrounding diabetes and the many people who are impacted by the disease.(RFR)(11-1-2014)

Roush to be inducted into Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame: Legendary motorsports team owner and innovator Jack Roush has long been identified with the state of Michigan, where his corporate empire is headquartered in Livonia (suburban Detroit). While he may have committed the last several decades of his racing career to the blue oval of Ford, the man nicknamed "The Cat In the Hat" is actually a native of the Bluegrass State. And because of that distinction, Roush, who was born in Covington, Ky., will be one of 13 new members inducted Saturday into the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame in Owensboro. Induction into the Kentucky Hall is one of countless honors Roush has received in his career, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.(NBC Sports)(10-24-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing "Fan Day" Set for Thursday, October 9: Roush Fenway Racing will hold its annual "Fall Fan Day" on Thursday, Oct. 9 at its team headquarters. Team owner Jack Roush and NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Reed and Chris Buescher will be on hand to interact with fans and sign autographs. Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) will again broadcast its popular "Tradin' Paint" mid-day program with Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers live from the event. In addition, Roush Fenway will host a live "Google+ Hangout" on its award-winning Google+ platform beginning at 10:00 a.m. Also featured will be a Fan Day 'Selfie' booth, where fans will be encouraged to take selfie photos with special pink props, highlighting Roush Fenway's 'Pit for a Pair' program to raise awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and National Breast Cancer awareness month. Fans will be encouraged to tag the photos with the special hashtag #Pit4APair, as well as vote for one of two pink items that the Roush Fenway drivers will wear during driver introductions later in the month at Martinsville Speedway. Ticket distribution for the autograph sessions will be held on site and begin at 8:00 am/et.(RFR), more info at roushfenway.com.(10-2-2014)

Fifth Third Bank renews with #17 Roush Fenway Racing team: Roush Fenway Racing today announced that Fifth Third Bank has renewed its relationship as a primary sponsor of the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Ford with driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a multi-year deal (supposedly thru 2017). "We are really thrilled to have Fifth Third Bank back with us next season" said Stenhouse, who is currently competing in his sophomore season at NASCAR's highest level. "It has been an honor to represent Fifth Third over the past two seasons and I am looking forward to working with them over the years to come. We have them on the car here in Atlanta this weekend and again in Richmond next weekend. Hopefully we can celebrate this announcement with a trip to victory lane and a 'Chase' berth for the #17 team." Fifth Third Bank came onboard with Roush Fenway Racing in 2012 and has served as a primary sponsor on the #17 NSCS entry for the past three seasons.
"Fifth Third Bank is proud to extend our relationship with Roush Fenway Racing and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.," said Greg Carmichael, President and COO of Fifth Third Bank. "Our two companies share many of the same values including a commitment to teamwork and a drive to compete at the highest level. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Roush Fenway Racing and delivering innovative financial solutions to companies associated with the motorsports industry."
Stenhouse Jr., who captured NSCS Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, is a two-time NASCAR champion after winning back-to-back titles in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011 and 2012. He will make his 66th career Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with a career best finish of second earlier this year at Bristol.
"Fifth Third Bank been a terrific supporter of Roush Fenway's race cars on the track for the last three years, but our business relationship with them goes back much further," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "The best relationships for our team are ones where we can realize synergies across multiple touch points. Our relationship with Fifth Third Bank is a great example of that as we rely on them for all of our banking needs and they have been an integral part of our daily business operations for many years. We are thrilled to be able to continue working with them and supporting their commitment to motorsports for many years to come."(RFR)(8-31-2014)

Stenhouse Reveals 2015 Fastenal Fusion at Fastenal Headquarters: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. traveled to Fastenal headquarters in Winona, Minnesota last week to unveil the 2015 #17 Fastenal Ford Fusion in front of the 'Blue Team'. "It was great to unveil our 2015 Fastenal paint scheme at Fastenal's headquarters in front of their employees," Stenhouse said. "I got to meet a lot of individuals and their excitement has me looking forward to the 2015 season. On our tour, they showed me a wall that was designated for win banners so our #17 team will have to work on that for them." In Indianapolis, Roush Fenway Racing announced that long-time partner Fastenal will serve as the anchor partner on the #17 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a multi-year agreement beginning next season. Fastenal first joined with Roush Fenway in 2010 and has served as a primary partner for multiple Roush Fenway teams and drivers in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) and NSCS.(RFR), see images of the scheme on the 2015 #17 Team Schemes page.(8-23-2014)

Mark Martin returns to Roush...as a coach UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announces that legendary NASCAR driver Mark Martin is returning to the race team where he excelled behind the wheel for almost 20 years - this time as the team's driver development coach. Martin was the first driver hired by team owner Jack Roush when he founded his NASCAR operation in 1988. The two went on to become one of the most successful duos in sports history, accumulating 83 NASCAR wins, four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship runner-up finishes, and building Roush Fenway into the winningest team in NASCAR history.
"I'm excited to return to Roush Fenway Racing, as it feels like I'm going home to where I belong," said Martin. "I was fortunate to help build this team from the beginning and it's very humbling to be a part of Jack's team again. When Jack first hired me in 1988 we didn't talk about salary or benefits or perks, we talked about testing, tires and putting the right personnel into place to win on the track. That commitment is what stood out to me then and it's still what stands out to me today."
Martin piloted Roush Fenway's flagship #6 Ford from 1988 until 2006. During that time he accumulated 35 NSCS victories. At the end of his tenure at Roush Fenway he held a record five prestigious IROC (International Race of Champions) Championships and a then record 47 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins. For his career Martin posted 96 career NASCAR victories.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-31-2014)UPDATE: Mark Martin is back working for Jack Roush. As a driver coach, not as a driver. The 55-year-old Martin has enjoyed his time away from the track this season. He has spent the last two years driving in most, but not all, of the Cup races. "I don't ever flip on the TV and wish I was there," Martin said in a phone interview Friday morning. "I am happy where I am at. It's probably less (of an urge) than I even expected to get back into a racecar." While at Roush Fenway Racing from 1988-2006, Martin earned 35 of his 40 career Cup wins and four of his five career runnerup finishes in the standings. Since then, he has run five part-time seasons and three full-time seasons. He has 882 Cup starts, and it appears he's not all that interested in 883. "You know me well enough to know that I'm not going to say (never)," Martin said. "But I'll just tell you I have no interest at this time. I have no interest in even practicing a car or testing a car at this time.(Sporting News)(8-2-2014)

Zest renews sponsorship of Stenhouse, Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing announced that it has extended its partnership with Zest and the #17 Ford Fusion driven by two-time NASCAR champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., into the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Zest first joined Roush Fenway in 2012 and has served as a primary partner on the #17 Ford in NSCS competition the past three seasons. The company will again serve as a primary for Stenhouse for multiple races in 2015, as well as a season-long associate for the #17 entry.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-30-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing Announces 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Lineup: Roush Fenway Racing's 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) lineup will consist of three teams anchored by two-time NASCAR champion Greg Biffle. Biffle, driver of the #16 Ford and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Ford and also a two-time NASCAR champion will be joined by Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne in the #6 Ford. The lineup features a veteran perennial 'Chase' contender in Biffle - who is currently competing to become the first driver to win a championship at all three of NACAR's premiere series - as well as two of the sport's most promising up and coming drivers.
"I have had the privilege of fielding entries for the world's best race car drivers in NASCAR for nearly 30 years, and feel quite fortunate to have an opportunity to do that again next year," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "We have always prided ourselves in developing talent at Roush Fenway, and our 2015 line-up is a testament to the success of our organization in that respect. Greg Biffle is one of the most purely talented racers I've ever seen behind the wheel of a car, and his experience combined with the raw natural abilities, enthusiasm and desire in both Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Trevor Bayne have me very excited for the future. Although we still have a lot to accomplish this year, both John Henry and I are looking forward to going to the track in 2015 with this blend of veteran leadership and youthful potential."
Biffle, who has 746 NASCAR starts, first joined Roush Fenway in 1998, and earned the organization its first NASCAR championships in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2000 and in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) in 2002. He has qualified for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in five of the last six seasons; with a runner-up finish in 2005. Of his 55 NASCAR wins, 19 came in the NSCS, including Ford's 1,000th NASCAR victory last year.
"I don't have the words for what Jack Roush has meant to my career," said Biffle. "During our 16 years together, we have won multiple championships and numerous races on every level. I am as excited about what the future holds for me here as I am about what we have been able to accomplish in the past. Our goal remains to run up front, win races and become the sports' first triple-crown winner by having a championship in all three series. I know that we have the right ownership, the right team, the right resources and the right manufacturer to get that done here here at Roush Fenway."
Stenhouse joined Roush Fenway in 2008, going on to win back-to-back NNS championships in 2011 and 2012. In addition, he captured NASCAR rookie honors in NNS and NSCS in 2010 and 2013, respectively. Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 Champion, joined Roush Fenway in 2010 and has competed full-time in the NNS, while also running a limited NSCS schedule with Wood Brothers Racing. He will make the transition to full-time NSCS racing with AdvoCare as his primary partner on Roush Fenway's iconic #6 Ford.#99-Carl Edwards will not be with the team for the 2015 season. "I will always be thankful for Carl's contribution and the role he played in many Roush Fenway wins and championships," said Roush. "We wish him well for the future. In the meantime, we are excited about continuing our quest for a championship with Carl and the #99 team in 2014."(RFR), rumors have Edwards going to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015, but nothing is expected to be announced until September 2014.(7-27-2014)

Fastenal to Serve as Primary Partner for Stenhouse in 2015: Roush Fenway Racing announced that long-time partner Fastenal will team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., serving as the anchor sponsor on the #17 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) for a multi-year agreement beginning next season. Fastenal first joined with Roush Fenway in 2010 and has served as a primary partner for multiple Roush Fenway teams and drivers in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) and NSCS. "Fastenal is a first class partner and we are extremely pleased to have them team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the #17 team starting next year," said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. "Ricky has accomplished a great deal in a short time, and continues to improve each week. We have very high expectations for his success in the future and I'm thrilled that Fastenal will be a part of that."
Stenhouse, who earned NSCS rookie of the year honors in 2013, will move into his third full-season of Sprint Cup competition in 2015. Considered one of the most talented up-and-coming drivers on the circuit, Stenhouse posted back-to-back NNS championships in 2011 and 2012.
Fastenal is currently in its third season as a primary partner on the #99 NSCS entry driven by Carl Edwards, and was the primary partner on the #60 NNS team that captured the owner's championship in 2011. Fastenal has also served in a limited role as a primary partner for the #16 and #17 NSCS teams the past two seasons.
"We appreciate everything Carl has done and wish him nothing but the best," said Fastenal President Lee Hein. "That said, we're looking forward to continuing our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing as the anchor sponsor of the #17. We already have a strong relationship with Ricky, and we're 100% confident that he'll do a great job representing our company on and off the track."
"As a driver, I'm thrilled to have Fastenal on board for next season," said Stenhouse. "I grew up working in a race shop, helping my dad build cars and racing engines. I appreciate the chance to work with a partner like Fastenal that plays such an important role in building our race cars and helping us win on the track. I've had the opportunity to work with them in the past and meet a lot of the men and women that are part of the 'Blue Team.' I look forward to representing them on the racetrack, and to taking them to victory lane."(RFR)(7-27-2014)

EcoPower returns to sponsor Stenhouse Jr. at Indy: Ecopower Re-Refined Oil will serve as the primary sponsor at Indianapolis on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower is primarily sold to large corporate and government fleets, as well as consumers through do-it-for-me oil change outlets. EcoPower is by far the largest seller of lubricants to the U.S. Military for all branches all over the World; Safety-Kleen has been the majority supplier for almost 20 years. EcoPower protects some of the largest State and municipal fleets.(RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2014)

Roush Fenway tests at Michigan: Roush Fenway Racing Cup drivers #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #16-Greg Biffle and #99-Carl Edwards spent Monday and Tuesday using one of their NASCAR allotted tests at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for both the August MIS race and this weekend's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Ford Racing)(7-23-2014)

Hamlin, Stenhouse, Waltrip compete on golf tournament: #11-Denny Hamlin, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and #66-Michael Waltrip competed in the 2014 American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe over the weekend. Stenhouse was initially the favorite of the group, listed at 50-1 odds by Harrah's/Harveys Lake Tahoe Race & Sports Book to win. Hamlin and Waltrip were both listed at 200-1. The American Century Championship was celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year with a special salute to America's Armed Forces. As part of that initiative, Col. Chad Pfeifer, three-time winner of President George W. Bush's Warrior Open and the 2011 National Amputee Tournament champion, joined the field. Pfeifer lost his leg in an IED explosion while on patrol in Iraq in 2007.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Hamlin was 55th, Stenhouse was tied for 56th, and Waltrip finished tied for 71st. The tournament was won by former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien. See more about the tournament on the NASCAR Related Charities Events and News page.(7-21-2014)

Sprint Cup teams form Race Team Alliance UPDATE: A group of nine multi-car teams participating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) announced today they have formed a collaborative business association called the Race Team Alliance (RTA). The purpose of the organization is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing. The organization intends to open up its membership to all full time NSCS teams in the very near future. In providing a vehicle for the teams to work together, the organization creates for the first time a single entity to engage with stakeholders on creative ways to market and experience the power of the sport's teams and drivers. As part of its focus, the RTA also plans to explore innovative ways to harness the combined purchasing power and scale of the teams' operations to drive efficiencies in costs. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has been elected the first chair of the RTA.
"With the encouragement of NASCAR and the manufacturers, the teams have met in various forms and forums over the years to explore areas of common interest. This simply formalizes what was an informal group." said Kauffman. "The key word is 'Collaboration'. We all have vested interests in the success and popularity of stock car racing. By working together and speaking with a single voice, it should be a simpler and smoother process to work with current and potential groups involved with the sport. Whether it be looking for industry-wide travel partners or collaborating on technical issues - the idea is to work together to increase revenue, spend more efficiently, and deliver more value to our partners."
The following teams are the executive members of the RTA: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motor Sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motor Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske.(RTA)(7-7-2014)UPDATE: Statement from NASCAR: "We are aware of the alliance concept the team owners have announced, but have very few specifics on its structure or purpose. It is apparently still in development and we're still learning about the details so it would be inappropriate to comment right now. NASCAR's mission, as it has always been, is to create a fair playing field where anyone can come and compete. Our job is to support and strengthen all of the teams, large and small, across all of our series and we'll continue to do that. NASCAR is a unique community with hundreds of stakeholders. They all have a voice and always will."(NASCAR)(7-7-2014)

Cargill makes first appearance on Stenhouse, Jr's car: Cargill will make its debut on the #17 at Daytona International Speedway in the July 5th Coke Zero 400. Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Cargill has 143,000 employees in 67 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way. Cargill is also one of the largest beef producers in the U.S. Cargill previously partnered with Stenhouse and NASCAR champion crew chief Mike Kelley during the duo's back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series Championships in 2011 and 2012. Cargill first joined Roush Fenway Racing during the 2010 season.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

Ecopower Re-Refined Oil returns to the #17 at Sonoma: EcoPower will serve as the primary sponsor on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the 2nd of fiv races at Sonoma Raceway. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower debuted as the primarily sponsor at Michigan last week (RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(6-21-2014)

Jack Roush comments on 2015 driver lineup and performance: car owner Jack Roush participated in a press conference this morning announcing their involvement with EcoPower re-refined motor oil, produced by Safety-Kleen. In addition, team owner Jack Roush answered questions regarding the 2014 season and 2015, the transcript in part:Q) WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOUR PROGRAM IS AT THIS POINT AND DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON YOUR DRIVER LINEUP FOR NEXT YEAR?Roush: "In due time we'll have announcements for 2015. We've got a lot of 2014 in front of us and we're obviously focused on that. If you looked at our year we've been probably challenged more than some of the teams have with the difference in the ride height. I know that's changed the dynamic of the underbody of the car and it's been a revelation. How low is low enough and how low is too low. Too low is higher than we thought it might have been a month ago and we're sorting that out. We're committing to test as much as we can. We've got a test going somewhere virtually every week, either a tire test at a NASCAR race track - a sanctioned test - or a bootlegged race track test that's not on the NASCAR circuit, so we're testing. We're running our eight-post machine in the lab real hard and we're taking very careful note of the ride height changes on the race track and where we seem to have our challenge and our best result returned. I think that most of the answer for the things that we need are in our box of parts - it's the bump stops, it's a rubber, it's those spring combinations - it's the roll bars. We don't seem to have a kinematic problem. We don't seem to have a fundamental error problem. Certainly the Penske guys are running really well with very similar cars and we've just got to get back to where we need to be. This business cycles. We've had times when we've been the cars to beat for an extended period of time to everybody's frustration and now we're just struggling to get back to where we need to be."(Ford Racing)(6-13-2014)

Ecopower Re-Refined Oil debuts on the #17 at MIS: EcoPower will serve as the primary sponsor on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for five races in the NSCS - with the first race being this weekend at MIS. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower is primarily sold to large corporate and government fleets, as well as consumers through do-it-for-me oil change outlets. EcoPower is by far the largest seller of lubricants to the U.S. Military for all branches all over the World; Safety-Kleen has been the majority supplier for almost 20 years. EcoPower protects some of the largest State and municipal fleets (RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(6-13-2014)

Fastenal to Honor Military Workforce with Three Car Salute at CMS: For the third straight year, Fastenal will display appreciation for our nation's military forces through its sponsorship of the entire Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) fleet at the Coca-Cola 600. The patriotic paint schemes that will grace the racecars of #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle and #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. represent the organization's gratitude to military personnel who are a part of the Fastenal Blue Team as well as all other men and women who have served our country. In 2013, Fastenal held an essay contest for its active and retired military employees, selecting three winners who were individually featured on the hoods of the #99, #17 and #16 cars. This year, 630 Fastenal employees who have represented our great nation will see their names under the lights of Charlotte Motor Speedway as they are proudly displayed on the hood of the #99.
"Behind every one of those names is a story of tremendous sacrifice," said Fastenal President Lee Hein. "It's our small way of paying tribute to their service and letting them know that we couldn't be more proud to have them as members of the Fastenal Blue Team."
Twelve of the 630 veterans highlighted on the hood of Edward's car will be in attendance at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Memorial Day weekend for a behind-the-scenes experience at the 55th running of the Coca-Cola 600. Former Army Sergeant Robert Thompson, who now works out of Lincolnton, N.C. as a Fastenal Sales Associate, is proud to be part of an organization that recognizes its large military workforce.
"It feels pretty awesome that I work for a company like Fastenal that honors, respects and values veterans," said Thompson. "In the short time that I have been with Fastenal I have come to find out that there are a lot of veterans at the company. They realize that the military gives their personnel a wide assortment of skills. It's great to see that Fastenal understands that and hires us to perform those skills."
In addition, Fastenal would like to acknowledge Roush Fenway Racing employee and veteran Randy Fuller by including his name on the hood as an honorary Blue Team member. Fuller, who served in the Air Force for 26 years and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant, has been the Media Relations Manager for Edwards for over a decade. This is Fastenal's third season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the primary sponsor for Edwards in the #99 Ford Fusion. (RFR / Fastenal Racing), see image of the schemes on the #99 Team Schemes page.(5-22-2014)

Cargill 'Beefs Up' Partnership with Roush Fenway, Stenhouse Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that long-standing partner Cargill Beef will move to the Sprint Cup Series, serving as a primary partner for the #17 team with NASCAR Champion driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The pair will make its debut together at Daytona International Speedway in the July 5th Coke Zero 400. "We are pleased to continue to grow our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing and to reunite with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.," said John Keating, president of Cargill Beef. "We recognize that NASCAR fans love beef and they have proven to be brand loyal by supporting companies that back teams within the sport. This makes NASCAR an ideal marketing venue for Cargill and our customers. Beef is a perfect choice for NASCAR racing fans everywhere, including trackside grilling, and this partnership provides us the avenue to make Cargill Beef products their top choice." Cargill previously partnered with Stenhouse and NASCAR champion crew chief Mike Kelley during the duo's back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series Championships in 2011 and 2012. Cargill first joined Roush Fenway Racing during the 2010 season.
"It's only fitting that Cargill has opted to make the move up to Sprint Cup with Ricky," said team owner Jack Roush. "Cargill entered the sport in 2010 and took a chance on a young and unproven driver in Ricky. They went on to play a major role in his back-to-back Nationwide Series Championships, and we are excited to extend our relationship into the Sprint Cup Series as Ricky's career continues to grow and as his potential is further realized."
"I'm thrilled to have Cargill become a part of the #17 team," said Stenhouse. "They have been a great partner with Roush Fenway for the past four seasons and we had a great run with them in the Nationwide Series. It is our intention to pick up where we left off in 2012. I can't think of a better way to bring them into the Sprint Cup Series than racing for a win at Daytona on July 4th weekend -- the biggest grilling weekend of the year."
In addition to serving as a primary partner with Stenhouse in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Cargill teamed with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in 2013 in the Nationwide Series. "We are delighted to grow our partnership and to team up with Ricky coming off his Sprint Cup rookie-of-the-year season," stated Tammy Shaw, Cargill Beef vice president of marketing. "The enthusiasm we have experienced from our customers, employees, and race fans during our time with Roush Fenway Racing has confirmed that high quality beef products and NASCAR racing fit perfectly together. Our customers provide consumers value by promoting Cargill beef and our affiliation with Roush Fenway Racing on the NASCAR circuit has served as a clear point of differentiation. We look forward to another terrific season with Roush Fenway, Ricky and Mike and to continue to find unique ways to market our products and support our customers through NASCAR."
Cargill will serve as the primary partner on the #17 car for five races during the 2014 season. (RFR)(5-22-2014)

Roush Leads Kentucky HoF Inductees: One of the most successful team owners in all of motorsports, a legendary car show promoter and some of Louisville 's most successful short track oval racers will be part of the 2014 class of the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The seventh annual induction ceremony will be held in October at the SpeedZeum inside the Owensboro Museum of Science and History in downtown Owensboro. Topping the class of 2014 is Covington native Jack Roush, whose motorsports career has spanned the upper echelon of NASCAR, drag racing, sports car racing and automotive aftermarket engineering and development.
Other members of this year's class include: Carl Casper and Chub Lorah of Louisville, promoters of the annual Carl Casper custom car show in Louisville; V.V. Cooke race team, a Louisville-based oval racing team; Hal Miller, of Owensboro , who built and promoted the first oval race track and drag strip in Owensboro; Bob Taylor of Louisville , a nationally recognized show car builder, painter and pin-stripe artist; Chuck Winders of Louisville, the most successful driver in the history of the former Louisville Motor Speedway. In addition, this year the Hall of Fame will present only its third Pioneer Award to Tony Schiller of Frankfort.(National Speed Sport News)(5-17-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing makes a change: Release of long-time Roush Fenway Racing lead engineer Chip Bolin signals change in direction for NASCAR powerhouse Chip Bolin and Roush Fenway Racing have parted ways. Roush Fenway Racing confirmed on Thursday morning that Bolin had been released. Bolin, 40, joined RFR in 1998 along with Bob Osborne to start the company's engineering department following an internship with Andy Petree Racing. The North, S.C.-native has worked in a variety of roles at RFR over the years including as both crew chief and team engineer. His first season was 1999, the same year Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser (now GM). Bolin became the #17 team engineer in 2001 and was an integral part of Kenseth's 2003 Sprint Cup championship. At the end of 2007 season when Reiser transitioned into a management role, Bolin was named crew chief for Kenseth's team. Bolin's release comes at a time when both of Roush's top drivers have contracts up for renewal. While Biffle insists it's his intent to remain with the organization, there has been a rash of speculation surrounding Edwards' plans.(Motorsport)(5-15-2014)

RFR, Stenhouse Jr. Building for America's Bravest at Shootout: Roush Fenway Racing and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. announced they are teaming with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to support the organizations' continued effort to build 'smart' homes for injured military heroes. In addition, the organizations' '9/11 Never Forget' mobile exhibit will make its return to its North Carolina roots at RFR's Fan Appreciation Day on May 22. The exhibit was built in North Carolina and was unveiled in Fayetteville in September 2013. "It's a great cause and I am proud to carry their colors on our race car," said two-time NASCAR champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. "It's our duty as American Citizens to give back to the guys that give everything for our freedom and are true heroes. They are the ones that allow us to be able to chase our dreams each week - on and off the race track - and I am very excited to be able to help raise awareness for the work that these great organizations are doing to give back to them." Stenhouse's #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion will run a special paint scheme in the Sprint Cup Showdown. The partnership will help raise awareness to build a smart home for Tom McRae, a Marine Gunnery Sgt. who served three tours of duty in Iraq before suffering life altering injuries while on his second deployment in Afghanistan.
"We are honored that the Roush Fenway Racing team, and their driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., are supporting our efforts to build 'smart' homes for our catastrophically injured military heroes," said Frank Siller, chairman of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. "By featuring our 'Building for America's Bravest' and 'Tunnel to Towers' logos on the paint scheme of Ricky's #17 Ford Fusion, they are helping to raise awareness for the work we're doing. Then, the fact that Lionel Racing will be making die-cast cars of the model, and donating a portion of the proceeds to us, makes it even more fantastic." "Having Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drive his racecar in the All-Star Race with the 'Building for America's Bravest' logo is really cool," said McRae. "I can't thank him and the Roush Fenway Racing team enough. And to know that Lionel Racing is going to take Ricky's car and make die-cast models of it, and that part of the money raised from sales will go to building smart homes for military like me who've been badly injured, makes it really awesome." The '9/11 Never Forget' mobile display is a traveling monument that honors those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. It will be on hand at Roush Fenway for its annual fan day on May 22, marking its first appearance at the team's headquarters. The partnership marks the fourth season that RFR has teamed with the Stephen Siller Tunnel of Towers Foundation to raise awareness.(RFR / Lionel
Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(5-6-2014)

Jack Roush discusses possible engine changes: With NASCAR officials focusing on engine changes in the Sprint Cup Series for 2015 that will result in a reduction of horsepower, such a move should involve "a restriction on the intake side," according to Sprint Cup Series team co-owner [#16, #17, #99] Jack Roush. Roush, an owner in the series since 1988, isn't suggesting the use of restrictor plates similar to those used at Daytona and Talladega. Instead, he said, a reduction of the throttle bore size "without a plate underneath" would accomplish the objective. "(It is) straightforward and it is easily reversible if you decided that the quality of the racing was hurt by it," Roush said. "If they want to take 100 horsepower off ... reduce horsepower significantly, the least expensive and most palatable way to do that is with a restriction on the intake side." Today's Cup engines, limited to 358 cubic inches, produce approximately 850 horsepower. Speeds have increased, in part due to a new rules package and the continued development of the Generation-6 car, now in its second year. While officials with the three auto manufacturers currently involved at the series' top level, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, have been a part of the discussions, they say it is too early in the process to respond to potential engine changes. "From an owner's standpoint, NASCAR has got to be mindful of ... what it costs," Roush said. "The race teams can only afford to change so many things at a time. With the expanding technology and the engineering costs that everybody has with the pressure for sponsorship and investment in the sport, a dramatic or unnecessary engine change would not be welcome in my world."(see full article at NASCAR.com)(4-20-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing and EcoPower Re-Refined Oil Announce Multi-Year Partnership: Fresh off its one-two finish at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) announced a multi-year team-wide partnership with Safety-Kleen and its premium re-refined motor oil brand, EcoPower. EcoPower will serve as the official oil partner of NASCAR's winningest team, as well as the primary sponsor for multiple races with the #17 Sprint Cup Ford and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion will make its debut at Michigan International Speedway in June (and four other races). "We are pleased to have EcoPower on board as our official oil partner," said team owner Jack Roush. "The partnership reflects Roush Fenway's commitment to both sustainability and using highest quality products. EcoPower protects engines and protects the environment. We have had great success in our race cars with re-refined oil and we look forward to continuing that success with EcoPower, while promoting environmental responsibility throughout this season and into the future."
"The environmental benefits of re-refined oils have been rigorously evaluated and proven," said Curt Knapp, Safety-Kleen executive vice president, marketing and oil re-refining sales. "Fleet operators and consumers want to be absolutely confident that the oil will protect their valuable investment. We can't think of a stronger, more authentic endorsement for EcoPower than Jack Roush using it in his race cars to achieve peak protection and performance."
EcoPower re-refined oil helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. And it requires up to 85% less energy to produce than oil made from virgin crude, because it has already been refined. It also helps reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. That's why car dealerships, quick lubes, other DIFM installers, consumers and fleets rely on EcoPower to protect engines and protect the environment.
Safety-Kleen is a founding partner of NASCAR Green; an initiative focused on making NASCAR the greenest sport. Safety-Kleen collects all used fluids from the tracks during race weekends - and from most team facilities year round - and then recycles or responsibly disposes of those fluids. The used motor oil collected from all of these sources, including RFR's race cars, will find its way back into EcoPower. This "closed-loop" philosophy is by far the most environmentally responsible approach to handling used oil. EcoPower is more than just engine oil. It is part of a much bigger effort by Safety-Kleen, the largest collector and re-refiner of used oil in the world. In 2013, Safety-Kleen collected over 220 million gallons of used oil. EcoPower doesn't just conserve resources; it protects them by keeping used motor oil out of our land and groundwater, making it truly an oil change for the better.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-20-2014)

Nationwide Insurance Features Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the Driver's First National Television Campaign: The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., seeks to improve his performance on the track and off as the Nationwide Insurance member debuts his first national television commercial for a sponsor. The spot airs for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 22 during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 race at Daytona International Speedway. "Spotter" brings to life how NASCAR spotters are looking out for their driver's best interests, just as Nationwide does for its members. The commercial also airs during "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 23 on Fox and throughout the 2014 NASCAR season. Stenhouse also will be featured in a co-branded consumer promotion for Nationwide Insurance and ESPN. NASCAR fans are able to register to win a 2014 Ford Mustang beginning Thursday, Feb. 20 at espn.com/nationwide.(PR)(2-22-2014)

Stenhouse Jr. and Zest offer PSA to help those in need: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and one of his primary sponsors, Zest personal care brand, have teamed up to tackle a serious issue across the country, joining Family-to-Family.org to create a public service announcement video. The program that Stenhouse promotes in the PSA, called Shower To The People, addresses the serious and sadly overlooked issue of getting basic personal care items into the hands of people who struggle to afford them. The PSA starring Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will debut this weekend on the big screen at Daytona International Speedway. In it, Stenhouse Jr. addresses a serious and sadly overlooked issue: getting basic personal care items into the hands of people who struggle to afford them.(PR)(2-22-2014)

Stenhouse Jr. running open wheel race UPDATE: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wants a checkered flag for Christmas - well, sort of. The Roush Fenway Racing driver will get back behind the wheel this Saturday, going back to his short-track, open-wheel roots in DuQuoin, Illinois. Stenhouse will compete in the fifth annual Great Clips Battle at the Center on the one-sixth Mini-Magic Mile at the Southern Illinois Center, located on the grounds of the DuQuoin State Fair. The Battle at the Center is a non-points all-star race put on by the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. It'll be Stenhouse's second bid to win at DuQuoin, having finished second in the inaugural Battle at the Center in 2010. He'll be driving for Bryan Clauson Racing as a tune-up of sorts for next month's Lucas Oil Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla., from Jan. 12-17. It'll be Stenhouse's third try to win the Chili Bowl, having finished ninth in 2012, but failed to advance out of the B feature last year. (NBC Sports)(12-20-2014)UPDATE: Going back to his midget car roots, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. shook off a couple of late-race mishaps to finish eighth in Saturday's fifth annual Great Clips Battle at the Center at the Southern Illinois Center of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Joey Saldana of Brownsburg, Indiana, led the last five laps of the 40-lap main event around the 1/6-mile racetrack to take home the victory in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series event. Bryan Clauson finished second, followed by Justin Peck, Spencer Bayston, Daniel Robinson, Andrew Felker, Kevin Ramey, Stenhouse, Tim Siner and Jody Rosenboom. On Lap 26, as Stenhouse tried to make a run for the lead, he was involved in a four-car tangle involving race leader Clauson, Christopher Bell (running second at the time) and 2012 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series champ Andrew Felker. With three laps left in the race, Stenhouse was collected in a six-car pileup that ended his hopes of a top-five finish, but still managed to wind up with a decent eighth-place showing in the 21-car field.(NBC Sports)(12-22-2014)

Yates Denies Rumors of Roush Fenway Buyout: Roush Yates Engines CEO Doug Yates responded yesterday (Dec 4th) to rumors that he will replace Jack Roush at the helm of Roush Fenway Racing when Roush steps down in the near future. "Jack is committed to NASCAR racing," said Yates, son of legendary NASCAR engine builder and team owner Robert Yates. "He loves two things besides his family; racing and flying airplanes. He is not planning to stop the racing part, anyway. I know that for a fact." Yates admitted, however, that he is interested in following his father into the ownership ranks one day. "It's flattering to hear my name out there (in the rumor mill) and if the right situation came along, I'd love to carry on what my dad started and what he accomplished. But right now, my focus is on building great engines for Ford Motor Company and making Ford and Roush proud. That's what I'm going to try to stick with and be focused on in the near future. Jack Roush is not going anywhere" he said, "...and one thing he's not going to do is quit before he gets (Roush Fenway Racing) back where he wants it." Yates also said Roush has been instrumental in his success as an engine builder, adding, "He's been really good to me... a lot like my dad. I've been so fortunate to learn and watch and be around him. He's taught me a lot."(Godfather Motorsports)(12-5-2014)

#17 team has parts confiscated, could face penalty UPDATES: NASCAR announced late Friday that officials have confiscated the rear-end suspension parts on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s #17 Ford Fusion after finding an issue during prequalifying inspection for Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Saturday afternoon that NASCAR will take Stenhouse's rear-end suspension back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation early next week. Any penalties resulting from the issue on Stenhouse's car will likely be handed down on Tuesday -- two days after the season's final race -- and could affect the final points standings.(FoxSports)(11-16-2014)UPDATE Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. faces a likely points penalty for rear suspension pieces confiscated during pre-qualifying inspection Friday. Pemberton said NASCAR will begin its review of the Stenhouse suspensions pieces Monday. Having unapproved rear suspension parts is considered a P5 penalty on NASCAR's penalty system, meaning it could be as much as a penalty of 50 points, a fine of up to $125,000 and a six-week suspension for crew chief Mike Kelley.(Sporting News)(11-17-2014)UPDATE 2: The #17 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered during pre-qualifying inspection Nov. 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This infraction is a P3 level penalty which is outlined in Section 12-4.3 of the 2014 NASCAR rule book:Violations resulting in P3 penalties tend to fall between serious and intermediate in nature. While they might include general "categories" of infractions similar to those in P4 (e.g. unauthorized parts; failing to meet specs; etc.), they tend to pertain more to secondary componentry or systems; modifications of lessor significance; go/no-go measurement failures of an intermediate nature.
This infraction violates Sections:
12-1 - Actions detrimental to stock car racing;
20-12 - Suspension: All front end and rear suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension/drive line component beyond normal rotation or suspension/drive line travel.
As a result of these violations, crew chief Mike Kelley has been fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for six months starting Jan. 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015. Additionally, car chief Patrick Magee has also been placed on NASCAR probation for six months starting Jan. 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015.(NASCAR)(11-20-2014)

Changes at Roush Fenway Racing UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing is taking steps to right the ship. On Wednesday, RFR will announce the addition of respected motosports manager Mark McArdle as engineering director. McArdle will oversee all engineering for the organization and report to general manager Robbie Reiser. "My role is to provide the organization with better vision, increased levels of direction and communication to allow all the available resources to work together to find the solutions to the basic core problem of car performance," McArdle said. McArdle most recently was director of racing operations at Richard Childress Racing. He held the position since the summer of 2013 after four seasons with Furniture Row Racing in Denver. The last two years at FRR, McArdle served as an intermediary in the teams' technical alliance. He moved back to North Carolina to be closer to his family - ultimately the reason McArdle chose to leave RCR and join RFR, which cuts his commute in half. McArdle acknowledged he was grateful for the opportunity with Richard Childress and still has tremendous respect for the organization. Although McArdle will join RFR at the track this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, he only expects to be on the road 25-percent of the time in order to focus on the challenges back at the Concord, N.C.-based shop.
RFR has also hired Kevin Kidd as its Sprint Cup team manager. Kidd, who currently oversees the #20 Nationwide Series team for Joe Gibbs Racing, earned an engineering degree at Virginia Tech. He also worked with McArdle as the race engineer on the #19 at Evernham Motorsports. Kidd's role will be similar to Eric Peterson, who was Roush Fenway's operations manager before overseeing the Nationwide Series program.(Motorsport)(11-5-2014)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has announced the hiring of two industry veterans to senior positions in its competition group. Mark McArdle will oversee engineering for the organization's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) teams. Kevin Kidd will serve as NSCS team manager, supervising at-track operations beginning next season for an organization that has placed multiple cars in the 'Chase' in all 10 seasons of the format's existence. "I'm confident that having Mark and Kevin in these two key positions will make our organization even stronger next season," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "Mark has a pedigree in racing that spans multiple platforms and speaks for itself in terms of results. He has a reputation not only for success, but as a great manager and motivator. Kevin is recognized in the garage as one of the brightest minds in our sport. He has acquired invaluable experience working with both veteran and young drivers, and will be a great asset to our Sprint Cup program week in and week out at the race track. We look forward to bringing both Mark and Kevin on board and welcoming them into the fold."
McArdle, a successful veteran of IndyCar and NASCAR racing, has been named engineering director and will directly oversee Roush Fenway's engineering efforts. A renowned engine builder, McArdle boasts three victories in the famed Indianapolis 500 with Penske Racing in 1991, 1993 and 1994, having worked with a litany of open-wheel legends including Ricky Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti. McArdle has spent the last 15 years working in NASCAR, having served in high-level positions with Roush Yates Engines, Evernham Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing and most recently as director of racing operation at Richard Childress Racing.
"Roush Fenway Racing has a tradition and history of success like none other in motorsports, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it," said McArdle. "I've always had a very deep respect for Jack Roush and his entire organization, and know that the expectation for him, his drivers, teams and sponsors is to win races and championships at every level. I look forward to becoming part of that winning tradition, and to continuing it in 2015 and beyond."
Kevin Kidd has been named NSCS team manager. He will join Roush Fenway after having served as the crew chief for the No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series team at Joe Gibbs Racing since 2010. During that time he guided his teams to nearly 90 top-10 finishes in 167 starts with veteran drivers such as Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, as well as a host of developmental drivers. "Roush Fenway is a perennial 'Chase' contender with three extremely talented drivers in the 2015 line-up," said Kidd. "All of the right resources are in position to place all three of those drivers into the 'Chase' next season, and that will be our goal. I've had a great deal of experience working with both veterans and younger drivers, and this organization has a great mix of that with Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. I look forward to the opportunity to work with each of them, their teams and everyone at Roush Fenway." Kidd will move into his new role at the conclusion of the 2014 season.(Roush Fenway Racing)(11-6-2014)

Roush cars to carry special decals on cars in Nov.: Throughout the month of November, Roush Fenway Racing will support partners Lilly Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association as they highlight American Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day (November 14). In addition to unique video and social content, the team will carry special decals on all six of its Fords in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series [#6, #16, #60] and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series [#16, #17, #99] during the month )of November). "Diabetes is obviously something that hits very close to home for me, so I really appreciate that our entire Roush Fenway team and partners are helping to raise awareness during the month of November," said Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop DiabetesSM presented by Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang (in the NNS). "I'm proud of the work that both the American Diabetes Association and Lilly Diabetes do, and am excited to draw more attention to that." Diabetes impacts nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States, with another 86 million having prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. American Diabetes Month takes place each November, with the goal of raising awareness of this ever-growing epidemic, with programs designed to focus the nation's attention on the issues surrounding diabetes and the many people who are impacted by the disease.(RFR)(11-1-2014)

Roush to be inducted into Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame: Legendary motorsports team owner and innovator Jack Roush has long been identified with the state of Michigan, where his corporate empire is headquartered in Livonia (suburban Detroit). While he may have committed the last several decades of his racing career to the blue oval of Ford, the man nicknamed "The Cat In the Hat" is actually a native of the Bluegrass State. And because of that distinction, Roush, who was born in Covington, Ky., will be one of 13 new members inducted Saturday into the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame in Owensboro. Induction into the Kentucky Hall is one of countless honors Roush has received in his career, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.(NBC Sports)(10-24-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing "Fan Day" Set for Thursday, October 9: Roush Fenway Racing will hold its annual "Fall Fan Day" on Thursday, Oct. 9 at its team headquarters. Team owner Jack Roush and NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Reed and Chris Buescher will be on hand to interact with fans and sign autographs. Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) will again broadcast its popular "Tradin' Paint" mid-day program with Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers live from the event. In addition, Roush Fenway will host a live "Google+ Hangout" on its award-winning Google+ platform beginning at 10:00 a.m. Also featured will be a Fan Day 'Selfie' booth, where fans will be encouraged to take selfie photos with special pink props, highlighting Roush Fenway's 'Pit for a Pair' program to raise awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and National Breast Cancer awareness month. Fans will be encouraged to tag the photos with the special hashtag #Pit4APair, as well as vote for one of two pink items that the Roush Fenway drivers will wear during driver introductions later in the month at Martinsville Speedway. Ticket distribution for the autograph sessions will be held on site and begin at 8:00 am/et.(RFR), more info at roushfenway.com.(10-2-2014)

Fifth Third Bank renews with #17 Roush Fenway Racing team: Roush Fenway Racing today announced that Fifth Third Bank has renewed its relationship as a primary sponsor of the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Ford with driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a multi-year deal (supposedly thru 2017). "We are really thrilled to have Fifth Third Bank back with us next season" said Stenhouse, who is currently competing in his sophomore season at NASCAR's highest level. "It has been an honor to represent Fifth Third over the past two seasons and I am looking forward to working with them over the years to come. We have them on the car here in Atlanta this weekend and again in Richmond next weekend. Hopefully we can celebrate this announcement with a trip to victory lane and a 'Chase' berth for the #17 team." Fifth Third Bank came onboard with Roush Fenway Racing in 2012 and has served as a primary sponsor on the #17 NSCS entry for the past three seasons.
"Fifth Third Bank is proud to extend our relationship with Roush Fenway Racing and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.," said Greg Carmichael, President and COO of Fifth Third Bank. "Our two companies share many of the same values including a commitment to teamwork and a drive to compete at the highest level. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Roush Fenway Racing and delivering innovative financial solutions to companies associated with the motorsports industry."
Stenhouse Jr., who captured NSCS Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, is a two-time NASCAR champion after winning back-to-back titles in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011 and 2012. He will make his 66th career Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with a career best finish of second earlier this year at Bristol.
"Fifth Third Bank been a terrific supporter of Roush Fenway's race cars on the track for the last three years, but our business relationship with them goes back much further," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "The best relationships for our team are ones where we can realize synergies across multiple touch points. Our relationship with Fifth Third Bank is a great example of that as we rely on them for all of our banking needs and they have been an integral part of our daily business operations for many years. We are thrilled to be able to continue working with them and supporting their commitment to motorsports for many years to come."(RFR)(8-31-2014)

Stenhouse Reveals 2015 Fastenal Fusion at Fastenal Headquarters: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. traveled to Fastenal headquarters in Winona, Minnesota last week to unveil the 2015 #17 Fastenal Ford Fusion in front of the 'Blue Team'. "It was great to unveil our 2015 Fastenal paint scheme at Fastenal's headquarters in front of their employees," Stenhouse said. "I got to meet a lot of individuals and their excitement has me looking forward to the 2015 season. On our tour, they showed me a wall that was designated for win banners so our #17 team will have to work on that for them." In Indianapolis, Roush Fenway Racing announced that long-time partner Fastenal will serve as the anchor partner on the #17 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a multi-year agreement beginning next season. Fastenal first joined with Roush Fenway in 2010 and has served as a primary partner for multiple Roush Fenway teams and drivers in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) and NSCS.(RFR), see images of the scheme on the 2015 #17 Team Schemes page.(8-23-2014)

Mark Martin returns to Roush...as a coach UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announces that legendary NASCAR driver Mark Martin is returning to the race team where he excelled behind the wheel for almost 20 years - this time as the team's driver development coach. Martin was the first driver hired by team owner Jack Roush when he founded his NASCAR operation in 1988. The two went on to become one of the most successful duos in sports history, accumulating 83 NASCAR wins, four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship runner-up finishes, and building Roush Fenway into the winningest team in NASCAR history.
"I'm excited to return to Roush Fenway Racing, as it feels like I'm going home to where I belong," said Martin. "I was fortunate to help build this team from the beginning and it's very humbling to be a part of Jack's team again. When Jack first hired me in 1988 we didn't talk about salary or benefits or perks, we talked about testing, tires and putting the right personnel into place to win on the track. That commitment is what stood out to me then and it's still what stands out to me today."
Martin piloted Roush Fenway's flagship #6 Ford from 1988 until 2006. During that time he accumulated 35 NSCS victories. At the end of his tenure at Roush Fenway he held a record five prestigious IROC (International Race of Champions) Championships and a then record 47 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins. For his career Martin posted 96 career NASCAR victories.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-31-2014)UPDATE: Mark Martin is back working for Jack Roush. As a driver coach, not as a driver. The 55-year-old Martin has enjoyed his time away from the track this season. He has spent the last two years driving in most, but not all, of the Cup races. "I don't ever flip on the TV and wish I was there," Martin said in a phone interview Friday morning. "I am happy where I am at. It's probably less (of an urge) than I even expected to get back into a racecar." While at Roush Fenway Racing from 1988-2006, Martin earned 35 of his 40 career Cup wins and four of his five career runnerup finishes in the standings. Since then, he has run five part-time seasons and three full-time seasons. He has 882 Cup starts, and it appears he's not all that interested in 883. "You know me well enough to know that I'm not going to say (never)," Martin said. "But I'll just tell you I have no interest at this time. I have no interest in even practicing a car or testing a car at this time.(Sporting News)(8-2-2014)

Zest renews sponsorship of Stenhouse, Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing announced that it has extended its partnership with Zest and the #17 Ford Fusion driven by two-time NASCAR champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., into the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Zest first joined Roush Fenway in 2012 and has served as a primary partner on the #17 Ford in NSCS competition the past three seasons. The company will again serve as a primary for Stenhouse for multiple races in 2015, as well as a season-long associate for the #17 entry.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-30-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing Announces 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Lineup: Roush Fenway Racing's 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) lineup will consist of three teams anchored by two-time NASCAR champion Greg Biffle. Biffle, driver of the #16 Ford and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Ford and also a two-time NASCAR champion will be joined by Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne in the #6 Ford. The lineup features a veteran perennial 'Chase' contender in Biffle - who is currently competing to become the first driver to win a championship at all three of NACAR's premiere series - as well as two of the sport's most promising up and coming drivers.
"I have had the privilege of fielding entries for the world's best race car drivers in NASCAR for nearly 30 years, and feel quite fortunate to have an opportunity to do that again next year," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "We have always prided ourselves in developing talent at Roush Fenway, and our 2015 line-up is a testament to the success of our organization in that respect. Greg Biffle is one of the most purely talented racers I've ever seen behind the wheel of a car, and his experience combined with the raw natural abilities, enthusiasm and desire in both Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Trevor Bayne have me very excited for the future. Although we still have a lot to accomplish this year, both John Henry and I are looking forward to going to the track in 2015 with this blend of veteran leadership and youthful potential."
Biffle, who has 746 NASCAR starts, first joined Roush Fenway in 1998, and earned the organization its first NASCAR championships in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2000 and in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) in 2002. He has qualified for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in five of the last six seasons; with a runner-up finish in 2005. Of his 55 NASCAR wins, 19 came in the NSCS, including Ford's 1,000th NASCAR victory last year.
"I don't have the words for what Jack Roush has meant to my career," said Biffle. "During our 16 years together, we have won multiple championships and numerous races on every level. I am as excited about what the future holds for me here as I am about what we have been able to accomplish in the past. Our goal remains to run up front, win races and become the sports' first triple-crown winner by having a championship in all three series. I know that we have the right ownership, the right team, the right resources and the right manufacturer to get that done here here at Roush Fenway."
Stenhouse joined Roush Fenway in 2008, going on to win back-to-back NNS championships in 2011 and 2012. In addition, he captured NASCAR rookie honors in NNS and NSCS in 2010 and 2013, respectively. Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 Champion, joined Roush Fenway in 2010 and has competed full-time in the NNS, while also running a limited NSCS schedule with Wood Brothers Racing. He will make the transition to full-time NSCS racing with AdvoCare as his primary partner on Roush Fenway's iconic #6 Ford.#99-Carl Edwards will not be with the team for the 2015 season. "I will always be thankful for Carl's contribution and the role he played in many Roush Fenway wins and championships," said Roush. "We wish him well for the future. In the meantime, we are excited about continuing our quest for a championship with Carl and the #99 team in 2014."(RFR), rumors have Edwards going to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015, but nothing is expected to be announced until September 2014.(7-27-2014)

Fastenal to Serve as Primary Partner for Stenhouse in 2015: Roush Fenway Racing announced that long-time partner Fastenal will team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., serving as the anchor sponsor on the #17 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) for a multi-year agreement beginning next season. Fastenal first joined with Roush Fenway in 2010 and has served as a primary partner for multiple Roush Fenway teams and drivers in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) and NSCS. "Fastenal is a first class partner and we are extremely pleased to have them team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the #17 team starting next year," said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. "Ricky has accomplished a great deal in a short time, and continues to improve each week. We have very high expectations for his success in the future and I'm thrilled that Fastenal will be a part of that."
Stenhouse, who earned NSCS rookie of the year honors in 2013, will move into his third full-season of Sprint Cup competition in 2015. Considered one of the most talented up-and-coming drivers on the circuit, Stenhouse posted back-to-back NNS championships in 2011 and 2012.
Fastenal is currently in its third season as a primary partner on the #99 NSCS entry driven by Carl Edwards, and was the primary partner on the #60 NNS team that captured the owner's championship in 2011. Fastenal has also served in a limited role as a primary partner for the #16 and #17 NSCS teams the past two seasons.
"We appreciate everything Carl has done and wish him nothing but the best," said Fastenal President Lee Hein. "That said, we're looking forward to continuing our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing as the anchor sponsor of the #17. We already have a strong relationship with Ricky, and we're 100% confident that he'll do a great job representing our company on and off the track."
"As a driver, I'm thrilled to have Fastenal on board for next season," said Stenhouse. "I grew up working in a race shop, helping my dad build cars and racing engines. I appreciate the chance to work with a partner like Fastenal that plays such an important role in building our race cars and helping us win on the track. I've had the opportunity to work with them in the past and meet a lot of the men and women that are part of the 'Blue Team.' I look forward to representing them on the racetrack, and to taking them to victory lane."(RFR)(7-27-2014)

EcoPower returns to sponsor Stenhouse Jr. at Indy: Ecopower Re-Refined Oil will serve as the primary sponsor at Indianapolis on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower is primarily sold to large corporate and government fleets, as well as consumers through do-it-for-me oil change outlets. EcoPower is by far the largest seller of lubricants to the U.S. Military for all branches all over the World; Safety-Kleen has been the majority supplier for almost 20 years. EcoPower protects some of the largest State and municipal fleets.(RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2014)

Roush Fenway tests at Michigan: Roush Fenway Racing Cup drivers #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #16-Greg Biffle and #99-Carl Edwards spent Monday and Tuesday using one of their NASCAR allotted tests at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for both the August MIS race and this weekend's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Ford Racing)(7-23-2014)

Hamlin, Stenhouse, Waltrip compete on golf tournament: #11-Denny Hamlin, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and #66-Michael Waltrip competed in the 2014 American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe over the weekend. Stenhouse was initially the favorite of the group, listed at 50-1 odds by Harrah's/Harveys Lake Tahoe Race & Sports Book to win. Hamlin and Waltrip were both listed at 200-1. The American Century Championship was celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year with a special salute to America's Armed Forces. As part of that initiative, Col. Chad Pfeifer, three-time winner of President George W. Bush's Warrior Open and the 2011 National Amputee Tournament champion, joined the field. Pfeifer lost his leg in an IED explosion while on patrol in Iraq in 2007.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Hamlin was 55th, Stenhouse was tied for 56th, and Waltrip finished tied for 71st. The tournament was won by former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien. See more about the tournament on the NASCAR Related Charities Events and News page.(7-21-2014)

Sprint Cup teams form Race Team Alliance UPDATE: A group of nine multi-car teams participating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) announced today they have formed a collaborative business association called the Race Team Alliance (RTA). The purpose of the organization is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing. The organization intends to open up its membership to all full time NSCS teams in the very near future. In providing a vehicle for the teams to work together, the organization creates for the first time a single entity to engage with stakeholders on creative ways to market and experience the power of the sport's teams and drivers. As part of its focus, the RTA also plans to explore innovative ways to harness the combined purchasing power and scale of the teams' operations to drive efficiencies in costs. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has been elected the first chair of the RTA.
"With the encouragement of NASCAR and the manufacturers, the teams have met in various forms and forums over the years to explore areas of common interest. This simply formalizes what was an informal group." said Kauffman. "The key word is 'Collaboration'. We all have vested interests in the success and popularity of stock car racing. By working together and speaking with a single voice, it should be a simpler and smoother process to work with current and potential groups involved with the sport. Whether it be looking for industry-wide travel partners or collaborating on technical issues - the idea is to work together to increase revenue, spend more efficiently, and deliver more value to our partners."
The following teams are the executive members of the RTA: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motor Sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motor Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske.(RTA)(7-7-2014)UPDATE: Statement from NASCAR: "We are aware of the alliance concept the team owners have announced, but have very few specifics on its structure or purpose. It is apparently still in development and we're still learning about the details so it would be inappropriate to comment right now. NASCAR's mission, as it has always been, is to create a fair playing field where anyone can come and compete. Our job is to support and strengthen all of the teams, large and small, across all of our series and we'll continue to do that. NASCAR is a unique community with hundreds of stakeholders. They all have a voice and always will."(NASCAR)(7-7-2014)

Cargill makes first appearance on Stenhouse, Jr's car: Cargill will make its debut on the #17 at Daytona International Speedway in the July 5th Coke Zero 400. Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Cargill has 143,000 employees in 67 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way. Cargill is also one of the largest beef producers in the U.S. Cargill previously partnered with Stenhouse and NASCAR champion crew chief Mike Kelley during the duo's back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series Championships in 2011 and 2012. Cargill first joined Roush Fenway Racing during the 2010 season.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

Ecopower Re-Refined Oil returns to the #17 at Sonoma: EcoPower will serve as the primary sponsor on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the 2nd of fiv races at Sonoma Raceway. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower debuted as the primarily sponsor at Michigan last week (RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(6-21-2014)

Jack Roush comments on 2015 driver lineup and performance: car owner Jack Roush participated in a press conference this morning announcing their involvement with EcoPower re-refined motor oil, produced by Safety-Kleen. In addition, team owner Jack Roush answered questions regarding the 2014 season and 2015, the transcript in part:Q) WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOUR PROGRAM IS AT THIS POINT AND DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON YOUR DRIVER LINEUP FOR NEXT YEAR?Roush: "In due time we'll have announcements for 2015. We've got a lot of 2014 in front of us and we're obviously focused on that. If you looked at our year we've been probably challenged more than some of the teams have with the difference in the ride height. I know that's changed the dynamic of the underbody of the car and it's been a revelation. How low is low enough and how low is too low. Too low is higher than we thought it might have been a month ago and we're sorting that out. We're committing to test as much as we can. We've got a test going somewhere virtually every week, either a tire test at a NASCAR race track - a sanctioned test - or a bootlegged race track test that's not on the NASCAR circuit, so we're testing. We're running our eight-post machine in the lab real hard and we're taking very careful note of the ride height changes on the race track and where we seem to have our challenge and our best result returned. I think that most of the answer for the things that we need are in our box of parts - it's the bump stops, it's a rubber, it's those spring combinations - it's the roll bars. We don't seem to have a kinematic problem. We don't seem to have a fundamental error problem. Certainly the Penske guys are running really well with very similar cars and we've just got to get back to where we need to be. This business cycles. We've had times when we've been the cars to beat for an extended period of time to everybody's frustration and now we're just struggling to get back to where we need to be."(Ford Racing)(6-13-2014)

Ecopower Re-Refined Oil debuts on the #17 at MIS: EcoPower will serve as the primary sponsor on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for five races in the NSCS - with the first race being this weekend at MIS. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower is primarily sold to large corporate and government fleets, as well as consumers through do-it-for-me oil change outlets. EcoPower is by far the largest seller of lubricants to the U.S. Military for all branches all over the World; Safety-Kleen has been the majority supplier for almost 20 years. EcoPower protects some of the largest State and municipal fleets (RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(6-13-2014)

Fastenal to Honor Military Workforce with Three Car Salute at CMS: For the third straight year, Fastenal will display appreciation for our nation's military forces through its sponsorship of the entire Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) fleet at the Coca-Cola 600. The patriotic paint schemes that will grace the racecars of #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle and #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. represent the organization's gratitude to military personnel who are a part of the Fastenal Blue Team as well as all other men and women who have served our country. In 2013, Fastenal held an essay contest for its active and retired military employees, selecting three winners who were individually featured on the hoods of the #99, #17 and #16 cars. This year, 630 Fastenal employees who have represented our great nation will see their names under the lights of Charlotte Motor Speedway as they are proudly displayed on the hood of the #99.
"Behind every one of those names is a story of tremendous sacrifice," said Fastenal President Lee Hein. "It's our small way of paying tribute to their service and letting them know that we couldn't be more proud to have them as members of the Fastenal Blue Team."
Twelve of the 630 veterans highlighted on the hood of Edward's car will be in attendance at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Memorial Day weekend for a behind-the-scenes experience at the 55th running of the Coca-Cola 600. Former Army Sergeant Robert Thompson, who now works out of Lincolnton, N.C. as a Fastenal Sales Associate, is proud to be part of an organization that recognizes its large military workforce.
"It feels pretty awesome that I work for a company like Fastenal that honors, respects and values veterans," said Thompson. "In the short time that I have been with Fastenal I have come to find out that there are a lot of veterans at the company. They realize that the military gives their personnel a wide assortment of skills. It's great to see that Fastenal understands that and hires us to perform those skills."
In addition, Fastenal would like to acknowledge Roush Fenway Racing employee and veteran Randy Fuller by including his name on the hood as an honorary Blue Team member. Fuller, who served in the Air Force for 26 years and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant, has been the Media Relations Manager for Edwards for over a decade. This is Fastenal's third season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the primary sponsor for Edwards in the #99 Ford Fusion. (RFR / Fastenal Racing), see image of the schemes on the #99 Team Schemes page.(5-22-2014)

Cargill 'Beefs Up' Partnership with Roush Fenway, Stenhouse Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that long-standing partner Cargill Beef will move to the Sprint Cup Series, serving as a primary partner for the #17 team with NASCAR Champion driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The pair will make its debut together at Daytona International Speedway in the July 5th Coke Zero 400. "We are pleased to continue to grow our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing and to reunite with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.," said John Keating, president of Cargill Beef. "We recognize that NASCAR fans love beef and they have proven to be brand loyal by supporting companies that back teams within the sport. This makes NASCAR an ideal marketing venue for Cargill and our customers. Beef is a perfect choice for NASCAR racing fans everywhere, including trackside grilling, and this partnership provides us the avenue to make Cargill Beef products their top choice." Cargill previously partnered with Stenhouse and NASCAR champion crew chief Mike Kelley during the duo's back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series Championships in 2011 and 2012. Cargill first joined Roush Fenway Racing during the 2010 season.
"It's only fitting that Cargill has opted to make the move up to Sprint Cup with Ricky," said team owner Jack Roush. "Cargill entered the sport in 2010 and took a chance on a young and unproven driver in Ricky. They went on to play a major role in his back-to-back Nationwide Series Championships, and we are excited to extend our relationship into the Sprint Cup Series as Ricky's career continues to grow and as his potential is further realized."
"I'm thrilled to have Cargill become a part of the #17 team," said Stenhouse. "They have been a great partner with Roush Fenway for the past four seasons and we had a great run with them in the Nationwide Series. It is our intention to pick up where we left off in 2012. I can't think of a better way to bring them into the Sprint Cup Series than racing for a win at Daytona on July 4th weekend -- the biggest grilling weekend of the year."
In addition to serving as a primary partner with Stenhouse in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Cargill teamed with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in 2013 in the Nationwide Series. "We are delighted to grow our partnership and to team up with Ricky coming off his Sprint Cup rookie-of-the-year season," stated Tammy Shaw, Cargill Beef vice president of marketing. "The enthusiasm we have experienced from our customers, employees, and race fans during our time with Roush Fenway Racing has confirmed that high quality beef products and NASCAR racing fit perfectly together. Our customers provide consumers value by promoting Cargill beef and our affiliation with Roush Fenway Racing on the NASCAR circuit has served as a clear point of differentiation. We look forward to another terrific season with Roush Fenway, Ricky and Mike and to continue to find unique ways to market our products and support our customers through NASCAR."
Cargill will serve as the primary partner on the #17 car for five races during the 2014 season. (RFR)(5-22-2014)

Roush Leads Kentucky HoF Inductees: One of the most successful team owners in all of motorsports, a legendary car show promoter and some of Louisville 's most successful short track oval racers will be part of the 2014 class of the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The seventh annual induction ceremony will be held in October at the SpeedZeum inside the Owensboro Museum of Science and History in downtown Owensboro. Topping the class of 2014 is Covington native Jack Roush, whose motorsports career has spanned the upper echelon of NASCAR, drag racing, sports car racing and automotive aftermarket engineering and development.
Other members of this year's class include: Carl Casper and Chub Lorah of Louisville, promoters of the annual Carl Casper custom car show in Louisville; V.V. Cooke race team, a Louisville-based oval racing team; Hal Miller, of Owensboro , who built and promoted the first oval race track and drag strip in Owensboro; Bob Taylor of Louisville , a nationally recognized show car builder, painter and pin-stripe artist; Chuck Winders of Louisville, the most successful driver in the history of the former Louisville Motor Speedway. In addition, this year the Hall of Fame will present only its third Pioneer Award to Tony Schiller of Frankfort.(National Speed Sport News)(5-17-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing makes a change: Release of long-time Roush Fenway Racing lead engineer Chip Bolin signals change in direction for NASCAR powerhouse Chip Bolin and Roush Fenway Racing have parted ways. Roush Fenway Racing confirmed on Thursday morning that Bolin had been released. Bolin, 40, joined RFR in 1998 along with Bob Osborne to start the company's engineering department following an internship with Andy Petree Racing. The North, S.C.-native has worked in a variety of roles at RFR over the years including as both crew chief and team engineer. His first season was 1999, the same year Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser (now GM). Bolin became the #17 team engineer in 2001 and was an integral part of Kenseth's 2003 Sprint Cup championship. At the end of 2007 season when Reiser transitioned into a management role, Bolin was named crew chief for Kenseth's team. Bolin's release comes at a time when both of Roush's top drivers have contracts up for renewal. While Biffle insists it's his intent to remain with the organization, there has been a rash of speculation surrounding Edwards' plans.(Motorsport)(5-15-2014)

RFR, Stenhouse Jr. Building for America's Bravest at Shootout: Roush Fenway Racing and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. announced they are teaming with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to support the organizations' continued effort to build 'smart' homes for injured military heroes. In addition, the organizations' '9/11 Never Forget' mobile exhibit will make its return to its North Carolina roots at RFR's Fan Appreciation Day on May 22. The exhibit was built in North Carolina and was unveiled in Fayetteville in September 2013. "It's a great cause and I am proud to carry their colors on our race car," said two-time NASCAR champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. "It's our duty as American Citizens to give back to the guys that give everything for our freedom and are true heroes. They are the ones that allow us to be able to chase our dreams each week - on and off the race track - and I am very excited to be able to help raise awareness for the work that these great organizations are doing to give back to them." Stenhouse's #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion will run a special paint scheme in the Sprint Cup Showdown. The partnership will help raise awareness to build a smart home for Tom McRae, a Marine Gunnery Sgt. who served three tours of duty in Iraq before suffering life altering injuries while on his second deployment in Afghanistan.
"We are honored that the Roush Fenway Racing team, and their driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., are supporting our efforts to build 'smart' homes for our catastrophically injured military heroes," said Frank Siller, chairman of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. "By featuring our 'Building for America's Bravest' and 'Tunnel to Towers' logos on the paint scheme of Ricky's #17 Ford Fusion, they are helping to raise awareness for the work we're doing. Then, the fact that Lionel Racing will be making die-cast cars of the model, and donating a portion of the proceeds to us, makes it even more fantastic." "Having Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drive his racecar in the All-Star Race with the 'Building for America's Bravest' logo is really cool," said McRae. "I can't thank him and the Roush Fenway Racing team enough. And to know that Lionel Racing is going to take Ricky's car and make die-cast models of it, and that part of the money raised from sales will go to building smart homes for military like me who've been badly injured, makes it really awesome." The '9/11 Never Forget' mobile display is a traveling monument that honors those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. It will be on hand at Roush Fenway for its annual fan day on May 22, marking its first appearance at the team's headquarters. The partnership marks the fourth season that RFR has teamed with the Stephen Siller Tunnel of Towers Foundation to raise awareness.(RFR / Lionel
Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(5-6-2014)

Jack Roush discusses possible engine changes: With NASCAR officials focusing on engine changes in the Sprint Cup Series for 2015 that will result in a reduction of horsepower, such a move should involve "a restriction on the intake side," according to Sprint Cup Series team co-owner [#16, #17, #99] Jack Roush. Roush, an owner in the series since 1988, isn't suggesting the use of restrictor plates similar to those used at Daytona and Talladega. Instead, he said, a reduction of the throttle bore size "without a plate underneath" would accomplish the objective. "(It is) straightforward and it is easily reversible if you decided that the quality of the racing was hurt by it," Roush said. "If they want to take 100 horsepower off ... reduce horsepower significantly, the least expensive and most palatable way to do that is with a restriction on the intake side." Today's Cup engines, limited to 358 cubic inches, produce approximately 850 horsepower. Speeds have increased, in part due to a new rules package and the continued development of the Generation-6 car, now in its second year. While officials with the three auto manufacturers currently involved at the series' top level, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, have been a part of the discussions, they say it is too early in the process to respond to potential engine changes. "From an owner's standpoint, NASCAR has got to be mindful of ... what it costs," Roush said. "The race teams can only afford to change so many things at a time. With the expanding technology and the engineering costs that everybody has with the pressure for sponsorship and investment in the sport, a dramatic or unnecessary engine change would not be welcome in my world."(see full article at NASCAR.com)(4-20-2014)

Roush Fenway Racing and EcoPower Re-Refined Oil Announce Multi-Year Partnership: Fresh off its one-two finish at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) announced a multi-year team-wide partnership with Safety-Kleen and its premium re-refined motor oil brand, EcoPower. EcoPower will serve as the official oil partner of NASCAR's winningest team, as well as the primary sponsor for multiple races with the #17 Sprint Cup Ford and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion will make its debut at Michigan International Speedway in June (and four other races). "We are pleased to have EcoPower on board as our official oil partner," said team owner Jack Roush. "The partnership reflects Roush Fenway's commitment to both sustainability and using highest quality products. EcoPower protects engines and protects the environment. We have had great success in our race cars with re-refined oil and we look forward to continuing that success with EcoPower, while promoting environmental responsibility throughout this season and into the future."
"The environmental benefits of re-refined oils have been rigorously evaluated and proven," said Curt Knapp, Safety-Kleen executive vice president, marketing and oil re-refining sales. "Fleet operators and consumers want to be absolutely confident that the oil will protect their valuable investment. We can't think of a stronger, more authentic endorsement for EcoPower than Jack Roush using it in his race cars to achieve peak protection and performance."
EcoPower re-refined oil helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. And it requires up to 85% less energy to produce than oil made from virgin crude, because it has already been refined. It also helps reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. That's why car dealerships, quick lubes, other DIFM installers, consumers and fleets rely on EcoPower to protect engines and protect the environment.
Safety-Kleen is a founding partner of NASCAR Green; an initiative focused on making NASCAR the greenest sport. Safety-Kleen collects all used fluids from the tracks during race weekends - and from most team facilities year round - and then recycles or responsibly disposes of those fluids. The used motor oil collected from all of these sources, including RFR's race cars, will find its way back into EcoPower. This "closed-loop" philosophy is by far the most environmentally responsible approach to handling used oil. EcoPower is more than just engine oil. It is part of a much bigger effort by Safety-Kleen, the largest collector and re-refiner of used oil in the world. In 2013, Safety-Kleen collected over 220 million gallons of used oil. EcoPower doesn't just conserve resources; it protects them by keeping used motor oil out of our land and groundwater, making it truly an oil change for the better.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-20-2014)

Nationwide Insurance Features Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the Driver's First National Television Campaign: The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., seeks to improve his performance on the track and off as the Nationwide Insurance member debuts his first national television commercial for a sponsor. The spot airs for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 22 during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 race at Daytona International Speedway. "Spotter" brings to life how NASCAR spotters are looking out for their driver's best interests, just as Nationwide does for its members. The commercial also airs during "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 23 on Fox and throughout the 2014 NASCAR season. Stenhouse also will be featured in a co-branded consumer promotion for Nationwide Insurance and ESPN. NASCAR fans are able to register to win a 2014 Ford Mustang beginning Thursday, Feb. 20 at espn.com/nationwide.(PR)(2-22-2014)

Stenhouse Jr. and Zest offer PSA to help those in need: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and one of his primary sponsors, Zest personal care brand, have teamed up to tackle a serious issue across the country, joining Family-to-Family.org to create a public service announcement video. The program that Stenhouse promotes in the PSA, called Shower To The People, addresses the serious and sadly overlooked issue of getting basic personal care items into the hands of people who struggle to afford them. The PSA starring Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will debut this weekend on the big screen at Daytona International Speedway. In it, Stenhouse Jr. addresses a serious and sadly overlooked issue: getting basic personal care items into the hands of people who struggle to afford them.(PR)(2-22-2014)

Nationwide to sponsor Stenhouse in 2014:Nationwide Insurance has finalized its 2014 sponsorship of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning with season opening events at Daytona International Speedway. Nationwide's primary sponsorship of Stenhouse in the #17 Nationwide Insurance Ford Fusion includes seven races, while maintaining its associate sponsor status for the balance of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. "Our partnership with Ricky was an easy decision and race fans can expect to see more of him when we introduce our new season kick-off campaigns in a few weeks," said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance. "Our company has been an active NASCAR sponsor for 15 years, but fielding our first car in 'The Great American Race' will make the 2014 season even more special for our members, agents and associates."
Stenhouse will drive the #17 Nationwide Insurance Ford Fusion in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Feb. 15 in the Sprint Unlimited, Feb. 20 in The Budweiser Duel and on Feb. 23 in the Daytona 500. Other races include March 16 at Bristol, April 12 at Darlington, April 26 at Richmond and June 1 at Dover. "To be with Nationwide Insurance and reunited with my two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series championship crew chief, Mike Kelley, for seven races, will be pretty special for us," said Stenhouse. "I am thrilled Nationwide is partnering with me this year and look forward to creating something magical together again."(RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(1-29-2014)

Stenhouse getting more than a new crew chief: The # 17 Roush Fenway Racing team will have a different look when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. returns to the track Wednesday for the Charlotte Motor Speedway test. With his former crew chief, Mike Kelly, replacing Scott Graves, several crewmen - including car chief Pierre Kuettel, engineer Mike Bugarewicz and mechanics Brent Wentz and Joey Elliott - have parted ways with the team. Former Nationwide Series crew chief Patrick Magee is replacing Kuettel. "It's going to be good, I'm excited," Stenhouse said. "I've been in the shop hanging out with the guys. I think there was a little something we were missing last year - a little excitement with the team. One thing I feel like this year is everyone wants to be there. They all believe in Mike. They all believe in me. They're ready to go to battle. It's been a fun offseason being in the shop and feeling the atmosphere of the shop."
(Fox Sports)(12-11-2013)

Changes at Roush Fenway Racing? UPDATE: hearing that Mike Kelley will replace Scott Graves as Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s crew chief on the #17 Cup team in 2014 and Graves will move to Roush Fenway Racing's Nationwide team with driver Trevor Bayne. Current Roush Fenway Racing General Manager, Robbie Reiser will move to RFR's Competition Director position.(11-11-2013)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has announced it is reorganizing its crew chief lineup in 2014. Mike Kelley, who has served as the crew chief on the #6 NASCAR Nationwide Series team for the past four seasons, will move to the Sprint Cup Series, where he will reunite with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. "It's really exciting to team back up with Mike," said Stenhouse, the 2013 Sprint Cup rookie of the year and two-time NASCAR champion. "Obviously we have a great chemistry and we have had a great deal of success in the past. Scott (Graves) did a great job of guiding us through our rookie season this year and we look forward to continuing that growth next season." Kelley and Stenhouse partnered to win NNS championships in 2011 and 2012.
Veteran crew chief Chad Norris will take the helm of the #6 AdvoCare team with Trevor Bayne, which will look to be a front-runner for the 2014 NNS title. Scott Graves, who helped lead Stenhouse to the 2013 Sprint Cup rookie of the year award as the crew chief of the #17 NSCS team, will crew chief former ARCA Champion Chris Buescher in the historic #60 car. Seth Barbour, who was impressive in his performance with Buescher and Ryan Reed in 2013, will sit atop the #16 NNS Ford full time with Reed in 2014. On the Cup side, legendary crew chief Jimmy Fennig will again lead the #99 Fastenal team with Carl Edwards and Matt Puccia will once again team with Greg Biffle and the #16 3M team.(Roush Fenway)(11-19-2013)

Stenhouse Jr. is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year: Though #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. didn't enjoy as much success as he might have liked in 2014, his performance was strong enough to secure Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Stenhouse, who finished 22nd Sunday, beat out girlfriend #10-Danica Patrick for the recognition as top rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. "It means a lot, looking at all the other names that have won this award," Stenhouse said. "It definitely wasn't the season that we wanted, but we slowly but surely got a little bit better throughout the season. I was proud of what we did, of getting better, qualifying better, having runs up front, leading laps throughout this year. I thought we had a chance at winning some races there, at least being in contention. I was proud of those moments. All in all, it was a huge learning experience. Thankful we made it through; it's behind us now. We can move on to next year, look on improving every spot at every track that we can in the final points standings."(NASCAR Wire Service)(11-18-2013)

Calinoff Launches New Company: NASCAR notable, Mike Calinoff [current #17 spotter], has spent a good part of his career creating mutually-beneficial business relationships and designing creative funding models in the motorsports arena. Now, Calinoff has created a separate entity from his successful Public Relations, Social Influence and Branding company, 140BUZZ, to serve drivers and teams in their quest for sponsorships. GENER8PARTNERS, LLC with offices in Huntersville, NC and New York, NY will specialize in experiential marketing, leveraging consumer products and business-to-business relationships to develop sponsorship programs in motorsports with a dedicated staff. "We're not 'sponsor hunters', we're more like matchmakers," said Calinoff. "We're about creating opportunities for companies to not only gain exposure, but increase their businesses as a result of product leverage and creative relationships. The days of just vinyl on sheet metal are long gone."(140 BUZZ)(11-14-2013)UPDATE: Mike Calinoff leaves the spotters stand following this weekends NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Starting in 2014, Calinoff will spend more time with family and continue to grow his five companies, 140BUZZ, ENCORE140, GENER8PARTNERS, Mike Calinoff Driver Development and PopularSpeed.com which serve both the motorsports and music industries. "I've been so fortunate to have worked with such a great organization like Roush Fenway and amazing talents like Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. I never dreamed that I would be able to enjoy the successes that I have been blessed with."
Calinoff will continue to be an engaging figure on both Twitter and Facebook. For more information on his companies visit mikecalinoff.com.(11-15-2013)

RFR Driven scheme for Stenhouse at Phoenix: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. heads to Phoenix International Raceway in 17 #RFRDriven Ford. You could win the hood signed by the RFR crew. After 25 "Winning Years", a record 300 wins and numerous championships, Roush Fenway Racing remains "Driven" to succeed. To drive the point, RFR launched its 2013 "Driven" campaign at the 2013 NASCAR Media Day. The "Driven" program will include new and increased fan interaction, as well as partner promotions and special events throughout the season (RFR), see an image of the car/scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(11-7-2013)

Spotter Calinoff Not Returning to Roush Fenway in 2014: Mike Calinoff, a fixture atop the spotter's stand for Roush Fenway Racing since 2000, will not return as spotter for #17-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, or Trevor Bayne in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2014. "Jack Roush, Robbie Reiser and Matt Kenseth took a chance on me in 2000 and afforded me the opportunity to build a career in NASCAR that has far exceeded my expectations," said Calinoff. "I've worked with a number of amazing drivers and crew chiefs who will continue to be great friends."
"I've enjoyed working with Mike," said Stenhouse, "and I appreciate his help over the past four years."
Calinoff's resume at Roush Fenway Racing includes 47 victories in NASCAR's three National Touring Series with Kenseth, Stenhouse and Ricky Craven. He won the 2003 Sprint Cup title and two Daytona 500s (2009 & 2012) with Kenseth, in addition to back-to-back Nationwide crowns with Stenhouse in 2011 and 2012. "Even though I will not return to RFR in 2014, I remain focused on trying to win a Sprint Cup race with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.," said Calinoff. "That would be an awesome way to end the season."(Godfather Motorsports)(11-5-2013)

Stenhouse and Biffle in pink Fords at Martinsville: Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive the pink #17 'Driven for a Cause' Ford Fusion this weekend at Martinsville Speedway to raise awareness and support the National Breast Cancer Foundation(NBCF). "It is great to be able to team up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation and help bring awareness to a special cause" Stenhouse said. "Many families have been affected by breast cancer and it's an honor to help support the National Breast Cancer Foundation and all of their hard work." Throughout the month of October all of RFR's race cars carried a special 'pink ribbon Driven logos' in each of the month's events. In addition, teammate Greg Biffle's 3M Ford Fusion also features a special pink themed scheme for the event.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the cars on the #16 team paint schemes page and #17 team paint schemes page.(10-24-2013)

Zest Extends Partnership with Roush Fenway and Stenhouse Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing and two-time NASCAR Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will remain 'Zestfully Clean' into the 2014 season, as Zest has extended its partnership with the team to include six primary paint schemes next year. Stenhouse - the leading rookie of the year candidate in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - made the announcement Wednesday night on Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio's Dialed In via Jack's Garage, a weekly segment with award-winning radio host Claire B. Lang. Sporting one of the most unique paint schemes in the sport, Zest first joined RFR in 2012 and has served as a primary partner on the #17 for the last two seasons.(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-10-2013)

Roush Fenway "Driven for a Cause" In Support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) will utilize its 2013 'Driven' Marketing program in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. Through 'Driven for a Cause,' RFR will highlight cause awareness and support the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) during the month of October. "We are very pleased to help raise awareness for such a special cause," said RFR president Steve Newmark. "So many have been touched by breast cancer and we are proud to team with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and be able to play a small part in the great work that they do to make a difference in the lives of many." All of RFR's race cars will carry special 'pink ribbon Driven logos' in each of the month's events. In addition, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run a special pink 'Driven for a Cause' paint scheme on his #17 Ford Fusion at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 27. Greg Biffle's #16-3M Ford Fusion will also run a special pink themed scheme for the event. RFR is offering "Driven for a Cause" merchandise, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the NBCF. RFR will also donate pieces of the No. 17 'Driven for a Cause' Ford for auction, with proceeds benefiting the NBCF.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the schemes on the #17 Team Schemes page and #16 Team Schemes page.(10-3-2013)

Nationwide Insurance debuts on the #17 car: Nationwide Insurance will debut its two-year partnership with Roush Fenway Racing's #17 Ford by sponsoring Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Bristol this weekend. Nationwide Insurance will be the primary sponsor for two other races in 2013 (Richmond & Talladega), four races in 2014 and will serve as associate sponsor for all other #17 team Sprint Cup races. The race dates in 2014 are yet to be determined. See an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(8-23-2013)

Some Pit Crew Changes: Last week Pit Talks posted a list of all the changes on pit road since the beginning of the season. Since then there have been a few more major changes to Chase contending teams. Here are the changes known:
#29-Rear Carrier Aaron Schields has been replaced by Ethan Marquette.
#24-Rear Carrier Gene Cornwell is out with injury and is replaced by Jody Fortson.
#99-Front Changer Corey Baldwin is changing places with Mike Lingerfelt on the #17.
#56-Front Changer Eric Maycroft is replaced by Terry Spalding.
All these changes are important because all of them are either in the Chase or on the bubble to make the chase. Changing teams this late in the season can prove to be very productive or simply slow the process down.(Pit Talks and see Jayski's 2013 Pit Crew Chart)(8-20-2013)

Stand Up To Cancer featured on #17: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will carry Stand Up to Cancer on the decklid of the #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford at Michigan. Stand Up To Cancer and the Cancer Research Institute have joined forces in one of the most promising new research areas, using the science of immunology to get our bodies' own natural defenses to fight the disease. Immunotherapy has the potential to significantly change the treatment of cancer as we know it. Stand Up with us. Together, we can impact millions of lives.(RFR)(8-16-2013)

John Henry buys Boston Globe: New York Times Co., which put its Boston Globe newspaper up for sale this year, agreed to sell the publication to John Henry, owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, for $70 million in cash. The deal is $40 million short of the $110 million in pension liabilities said to be owed by the Globe properties collectively known as the New England Media Group, and is expected to close in 30 to 60 days. The sale also includes the Globe website, the Boston.com website, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, a 49 percent stake in Metro Boston, and the Globe's direct-mail marketing company GlobeDirect, the New York Times said in a statement.
Henry is also the principal owner of Fenway Sports Group, one of the largest sports, media and entertainment companies in the world. In 2010, FSG bought Liverpool Football Club, the 18-time English soccer champion, and its Anfield stadium. The company also owns the New England Sports Network and a 50 percent share in Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR racing team.(Bloomberg)(8-4-2013)

Pastrana tries to get Edwards, Stenhouse to base jump: Travis Pastrana uses his connections in extreme sports to help fund his car for the Nationwide Series. That's just fine with owner Jack Roush, as long as Pastrana doesn't bring along any of his teammates to one of his more exhilarating expeditions. Pastrana planned a base-jumping trip for Sprint Cup star #99-Carl Edwards and fellow Roush driver #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. But it all fell apart, and a smiling Pastrana said Saturday he suspected the 71-year-old Roush might have been behind the failure. "I guess someone at the office got a hold of it the day before we left because I ended up showing up to the base-jump place all by myself," Pastrana said with a chuckle. "So I assume he's OK with me doing it but he doesn't want me dragging the rest of the crew into that shenanigans."(Associated Press)(7-21-2013)

Roush starting to scale back: Having achieved nearly everything he'd wanted in his racing career, [Jack Roush] the 71-year-old captain of industry prefers to revel in others' success in the dusk of his NASCAR career. "There aren't so many firsts left for me, but I've not lost my passion for competition or my desire to operate at the top of my game," the founder of Roush Fenway Racing told USA TODAY Sports. "I just look forward to enjoying vicariously the success of drivers winning their first race or championship, and the crew chiefs and engineers able to share in those firsts. It's less about me and more about being a parent or a grandparent to them."
Once the Sprint Cup Series' quintessential hands-on team owner, Roush quietly is moving toward the sidelines. After a quarter-century of owning stock-car teams that have 314 wins in NASCAR and two championships in its premier series, Roush still works seven days a week but doesn't set his alarm for dawn anymore. He no longer spends 90 minutes before every race tinkering with each of his cars' carburetors, which have been excised from stock-car racing by electronic fuel injection. The mechanical wizard ... has been marginalized somewhat by advances in technology. The survivor of two plane crashes has eased into a role he jokingly labels as public and human relations manager.
"I've gone from wanting to be the mechanic that I hoped everyone else would be to now I'm the point-and-grunt guy," Roush said with a laugh, "hopefully, I'll become less viable before I'm gone. The challenge is to give up the management and decision-making at the right time." Within the next five years, the plan is he won't attend every team meeting or race anymore, scaling back to spend more time with five grandchildren who range in age from 8 months to 12 years old.
"He's trying to empower the folks running the team on a daily basis," team president Steve Newmark said. "I suspect that is sometimes hard for him, but he's doing it of his own accord, which is great because you see a lot of patriarchs that hold on for too long and don't leave the company in a good state. He's focused very much on making sure the company continues regardless of the level of his involvement." So is there a clear plan for the enterprise once Roush steps away? "There's no written plan," Newmark said. "We'll welcome his leadership as long as we can get it."Read much more at USA Today.(7-11-2013)

Sixteen Cup teams found with modified roof flap spacers UPDATE: Sixteen teams found to have modified roof flap spacers (lighter) during NASCAR inspection. Teams listed: #1-McMurray, #2-Keselowski, #9-Ambrose, #11-Hamlin, #13-Mears, #15-Bowyer, #16-Biffle, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #18-Busch, #20-Kenseth, #21-Bayne, #22-Logano, #43-Almirola, #55-Waltrip, #56-Truex Jr. and #99-Edwards. The modified/confiscated roof-flap spacers are on display at Daytona in the NASCAR hauler. NASCAR's Kerry Tharp addressed media on confiscated roof-flap spacers - "Spacers not in compliance with those kits." The roof-flap kits are supplied to teams for #NASCAR by one company (a Roush company) and are not to be changed.(SPEED's, Dustin LongFox/NASCAR on Twitter)AND Thirty-one cars, including 16 in the Sprint Cup Series, failed inspection before Thursday's practices at Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR confiscated the teams' roof flaps, which are designed to keep cars on the ground during spins and wrecks at high speeds, for further inspection. Penalties could be possible. The roof-flap spacers had been illegally machined down to reduce weight. NASCAR inspectors made those Cup teams install new, unaltered roof flaps before drivers were allowed on the track for the first of two practices. Inspectors then went to the Nationwide garage and found similar issues on 15 cars.
"When you find something in one garage, you communicate to the other garage," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. "We looked into it and this is what we found."(Associated Press)(7-4-2013)UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup teams expect widespread penalties after 16 cars were found with illegal roof-flap spacers at Daytona Thursday, but they don't know how severe those penalties might be. The teams caught scrambled Thursday to make compliant spacers, which are used to attach the hinge of the roof flaps.
Teams and manufacturers get roof flaps from Roush Composites and, according to the NASCAR rulebook, "the hinged air deflectors must be installed as specified in the instruction sheet supplied with the hinged air deflector kit." But it was apparent that many teams had lightened the spacers or changed them. It wasn't clear what tipped off NASCAR inspectors to the violations, but after a sweep of the Sprint Cup garage Thursday, NASCAR went through the Nationwide garage and took pieces from 15 Nationwide teams Thursday night. A non-compliant part might just be a monetary penalty but because it dealt with a safety piece - the roof flaps pop up during a spin to try to keep the car on the ground - a points penalty is definitely possible, as well as crew suspensions. NASCAR traditionally issues penalties the Tuesday after a race weekend. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said the widespread use of the illegal spacers most likely indicates that those pieces had gotten through inspection previously. "It's probably not something that was on a normal inspection routine," Pemberton said. "The teams are told that they must assemble all that stuff using all the parts that's in the kit. Once in a while you'll find things like that and it's probably something that teams have probably done a little bit in the past." Whether the number of teams involved will impact the penalties and whether crew chiefs who are on probation will face more severe penalties will be determined Monday and Tuesday, Pemberton said. Because teams didn't have extra kits at Daytona, NASCAR allowed the teams to make spacers that were compliant.(Sporting News)(7-5-2013)

Jack Roush reveals Ford Racing alliance with Penske Racing: Jack Roush had been around long enough to know that something had to change for his Roush Fenway Racing program to be successful.
Roush explained how the team had doubled its engineering efforts. After the race, Roush elaborated more on what had transpired to make the Ford Fusion Gen 6 car more competitive. "We had a summit meeting with the Penske guys last week, and talked about some of the strategies,'' Roush said of the launch of two Ford Racing teams working together. "We have had one cooperative wind tunnel test. We just scratched the surface. It will be great to have someone to share information with.'' Penske Racing, with drivers #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano, switched over to Fords this season. Roush identified aerodynamics and front suspensions as the areas the Ford Fusion needs to make up ground. "We have to find that last tweak in the front suspension or aerodynamics,'' Roush said. "When we started on Gen 6 (car development), it was a jump ball, and the car changed during its development to have more downforce than was anticipated to start with. We are on the path, and we have nice, light cars that I'm not the least bit unhappy about.''(Michigan Live)(6-17-2013)

Valvoline colors on the #17 at Pocono: The Party in the Poconos Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is Valvoline's debut on the #17 Ford of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. this season. Valvoline first partnered with RFR in 1989 and served as the primary sponsor on the #6 Sprint Cup Ford. In 2011, RFR first adopted NextGen motor oil technology, testing it at the lab and on track. Since 2011, overall regular season race wins using Valvoline with NextGen technology total 55, with 17 of those in NASCAR with RFR. In addition, Valvoline with NextGen technology won the last two NNS championships with RFR and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(6-6-2013)

Roush to run triple Fastenal Ford's in the Coca Cola 600 UPDATE: Fastenal Racing will be on #16-Greg Biffle, #17-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and #99-Carl Edwards Ford Racing Fusions for the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway next weekend.(Roush Fenway Racing Facebook)(5-18-2013)UPDATE: Held on Memorial Day weekend, the Coca-Cola 600 presents an opportunity for the NASCAR community to display appreciation for our country's military forces. This year, Fastenal is proud to honor military service men and women, both active and retired, with a three-car tribute on the #16, #17 and #99 Ford Fusions at Charlotte Motor Speedway. These three cars, known as the Fastenal Tribute Cars, will feature the names of current Fastenal employees who served in the military. David MacFadden (First Sergeant, U.S. Army) will be displayed on the hood of the #99, and Brian Ashbee (Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy) and Anthony Phillips (Private First Class, U.S. Army) will see their names on the hood of the #17. The displays are part of Fastenal's "Heroes Hired Here" campaign honoring employees who are active or retired military members. MacFadden, Ashbee and Phillips were the top three finishers in a Fastenal employee essay contest. As the contest winner, MacFadden will also receive a trip for two to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte on October 12th. Fastenal will be posting the winners' stories on the Fastenal Racing Facebook page this week (https://www.facebook.com/fastenalracing). "We're extremely proud of the hundreds of former and current military personnel who are part of the Fastenal Blue Team," said Fastenal President Lee Hein. "The Tribute Cars are a small way of expressing our gratitude to them and all of the men and women who have served our country." This is Fastenal's second season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the primary sponsor for Carl Edwards in the #99 Ford Fusion and second year sponsoring three Cup cars in the Roush Fenway Racing family for the Coca-Cola 600.(Roush Fenway Racing)ALSO: Roush Fenway Racing's Spring Fan Day is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd, more info at roushfenway.com. see images of the Fastenal schemes on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-21-2013)

Roush Fenway Racing will host their 2013 Fan Day events, on Thursday, May 23rd. Fans are invited to Roush Fenway's corporate headquarters in Concord, N.C. to participate in an array of activities that kick off with autograph sessions by all seven Roush Fenway drivers and Jack Roush. Be sure to stop by and meet your favorite Roush Fenway Racing driver! Tickets for the autograph sessions will be distributed at 8:00am/et. More info at roushfenway.com.(5-16-2013)

Nationwide Insurance sponsoring Stenhouse, Jr. in Cup: Nationwide Insurance announced a two-year partnership with Roush Fenway Racing's #17 Ford Fusion powered by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series. Nationwide Insurance will be the primary sponsor for three races in 2013, four races in 2014 and will serve as associate sponsor for all other #17 team Sprint Cup races. "We've had a 15-year presence in NASCAR and this is the first time we've sponsored a car in any NASCAR series," said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance. "We built a solid relationship with Roush Fenway and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and Nationwide Insurance member, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and we're eager to carry that momentum forward and enhance our existing integrated NASCAR marketing platform." The #17 Nationwide Insurance Ford Fusion will contend in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Aug. 24 at Bristol, Sept. 7 at Richmond and Oct. 20 at Talladega. The race dates in 2014 are yet to be determined.(Nationwide PR)(4-25-2013)

Roush Fenway Racing Shows Boston Support with "B-Strong": In the aftermath of the tragic events that occurred during Monday's Boston Marathon, Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) will show its support for the city of Boston with a "B-Strong" tribute this weekend at Kansas Speedway. All three Roush Fenway Ford Fusions will carry "B-Strong" decals during this weekend's NASCAR event and RFR team owner Jack Roush has pledged to donate $100 for every lap the team leads during Sunday's Sprint Cup race.
"When events occur such as what happened earlier this week in Boston, it is our nature to be overwhelmed with a variety of emotions," said Roush. "To have to withstand an act of such senselessness and cowardice against innocent people is disheartening to us all. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, as well as the entire city of Boston. "As Americans we can all be proud of the way the city of Boston - and the entire nation - has banded together in the wake of this tragedy. We are proud of our Boston connections and feel privileged to be able to play a very small part in supporting the 'B-Strong' effort."
Roush Fenway is half owned by Boston's Fenway Sports Group; the same company that owns and operates the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park as well as a majority stake in the region's premier sports network, NESN. In support of its sister team, RFR will carry the "B-Strong" decal that the Red Sox organization has used as a rallying point for Bostonians since the events that tragically took the lives of three people, while wounding well over 100 others. "The deplorable acts committed in connection with the Boston Marathon have impacted the entire nation," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "And it is inspiring to watch the resiliency and unyielding determination of the entire city of Boston in the wake of this tragedy. Their resolve helps to remind us what makes our country so great. We obviously work very closely with the Fenway Sports Management group on a regular basis, and for this to happen right there in their back yard really grabs your attention and drives it home. We are humbled as an organization to be able to support the "B-Strong" effort."
In addition, Roush Fenway will distribute "B-Strong" decals at the race track this weekend that pays tribute to the '617' Boston area code, the "B-Strong" program and provides information on how to support the "The One Fund Boston", an initiative formed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events. For more information about "The One Fund Boston" and how you can help those most affected visit: www.onefundboston.org.(Roush Fenway Racing)(4-18-2013)

Fifth Third Bank making first appearance on #17: Fifth Third Bank will make its 2013 debut with the two-time Nationwide Champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. this weekend at Martinsville for the STP Gas Booster 500. This will be the Sprint Cup rookie's first attempt at the famed paper-clip half-mile track. Fifth Third Bank joined Roush Fenway Racing in 2012 and will continue to serve as a primary sponsor for the #17, as Stenhouse and the team fight for the Rookie of the Year honors. The next scheduled event for Fifth Third Bank is Kentucky Speedway on June 29, 2013. Stenhouse ran a # 6 Fifth Third Ford Fusion in the 2012 Sprint Cup finale last season at Homestead.(Roush Fenway)(4-4-2013)

Roush Fenway adds marketing resources for partners: Roush Fenway Racing has increased the marketing resources available to the team's partners through the addition of six new hires and the creation of a new department focused on delivering incremental value to team sponsors. The new personnel bring to Roush Fenway areas of expertise including brand marketing, event marketing, television production, digital engagement, NFL player representation and retail activation. Included in RFR's new hires is marketing and industry veteran Mike Mooney, as vice president of partnership development. In addition, the business development department has brought in Garrett Hess as an account executive. Hess moves to RFR from K Sports & Entertainment in Boston where his was Sponsorship Sales Manager and an athlete liaison. In addition to the new personnel is the creation of a strategic marketing department focused on delivering incremental value to team partners through ideation and execution of activation, digital and public relations channels. This team is led by industry veterans Kevin Thomas, Amber Darnell and Kevin Woods, who represent nearly 40 years of NASCAR marketing experience. As one of its first moves, the strategic marketing department added Yasin Id-Deen as Social and Digital Marketing Manager. The team also bolstered its talent and diversity, bringing on television production veteran Rob DiFrank and former Octagon coordinator Amanda Weis as account/pr managers in its sponsor operations department.(Roush Fenway)(4-1-2013)

Jack Roush to be inducted in Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame: Jack Roush's success at Texas Motor Speedway has become a part of the speedway's growing history. It was Roush who became the first team owner to sweep both events at "The Great American Speedway!" during the inaugural season in 1997. His success has not stopped there as he has since gone on to win 18 races as a car owner across NASCAR's top three national series at Texas Motor Speedway, including a record nine in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. His dominance at Texas Motor Speedway has earned him the honor of becoming the 15th member inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. Roush will be honored Thursday, April 11, during the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala benefitting Speedway Children's Charities that will be held in The Speedway Club's Grand Ballroom.
Roush's induction culminates an evening that celebrates the accomplishments of motorsport's most talented drivers and contributors. Other honorees will be five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson; 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch; IZOD IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal; and legendary motorsports journalist Chris Economaki posthumously.
Johnson will receive the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year award. In the AAA Texas 500, Johnson became just the second driver to win from the pole for his second career victory at Texas Motor Speedway.
Busch has been instrumental in helping Speedway Children's Charities-Texas Chapter raise funds to benefit children in North Texas. He will be recognized as this year's recipient of the Maj. General Thomas Sadler Award. Busch has helped Speedway Children's Charities-Texas Chapter raise more than $40,000.
Rahal will receive the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award for displaying a demeanor both on and off the track that exemplifies the meaning of sportsmanship.
Economaki, motorsport's most noted and accomplished journalist, will be honored posthumously with the Bruton Smith Legend Award.(TMS)(3-29-2013)

Stenhouse Jr. to have NOS as sponsor: NOS Energy Drink will sponsor Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway this coming weekend. Six winners of the #IMNOSome Twitter campaign will be featured on the #17 decklid this weekend. Stenhouse on Auto Club: "We are bringing the same car that we tested with at Las Vegas. We had a lot of speed during the test so I feel confident going into this weekend. NOS Energy Drink sponsored me last year and stepped up to the Cup Series this year so it would be great to get a solid finish in their paint scheme this weekend. We've been strong at other mile-and-a-half tracks so I feel we should have a strong showing in our #17 NOS Energy Drink Ford this weekend."(RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(3-20-2013)

Roush Fenway selected as finalist for Social Media Icon Award: Roush Fenway Racing has been named a finalist for the PR News' Social Media Icon Award. The program is sponsored by PR News and is designated to honor those that "took chances, made incredible strides and understand the power of social media in public relations." RFR has been named a finalist in the category of "Use of Google+", with its marketing efforts through the platform in 2012. Roush Fenway become the first motorsports team to build a significant footprint in the Google+ space and the first team to exceed one million fans in its combined circles. A leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, Roush Fenway has brought home MarCom awards the past two years for its award-winning campaigns for RickyVsTrevor.com and "25 Winning Years." The significantly upped its level of fan engagement with a behind the scenes look at the organization kicking off at the 2012 Daytona Speedweeks with the first ever 'Five Driver Hangout.' The platform also featured live pre and post-race driver 'hangouts' from Daytona International Speedway, as well as G+ Hangouts from Fenway Park and RFR Fan Days.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-7-2013)

Roush Fenway Racing honored: Roush Fenway Racing has accumulated a NASCAR record 311 victories during its celebrated 25 year history. It's 2012 "25 Winning Years" marketing platform - designed to highlight and celebrate those accomplishments - has brought home its own accolade; being awarded the 2012 MarCom International Gold Award for public relations/communications campaigns. It marks the second consecutive year that RFR's marketing team has been recognized by MarCom (RFR)(3-3-2013)

Stenhouse Visits With Troops in Phoenix: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. visited troops at Luke Air Force base in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday. As part of the USO effort, the two-time reigning Nationwide Champion met with service men and women and their families to talk racing and extend thanks for all of their efforts and sacrifices. "The sacrifices these men and women make for our country is remarkable," Stenhouse said. "This is my second USO Tour and I always leave in amazement. Because of the men and women in the armed forces, we enjoy many freedoms including getting to race each and every weekend. They are true heroes."(RFR)(3-2-2013)

Valvoline extends partnership with Roush Fenway: Roush Fenway Racing and Valvoline have announced the extension of their long-running and equally successful NASCAR partnership. The relationship, which spans over a decade and a half, pairs two elite organizations with long histories of automotive performance excellence. RFR will continue to use Valvoline's revolutionary NextGen recycled, re-refined motor oil, which last season helped the team to a win in the famed Daytona 500 and its second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. Valvoline, a leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive products, will continue to be the exclusive motor oil provider for Roush Fenway Racing; NASCAR's winningest Team.(Roush Fenway)(1-31-2013)

Danica and Stenhouse Jr. are dating: #10-Danica Patrick revealed to The Associated Press she and #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are a couple, ending widespread speculation about the nature of their relationship. "I have a boyfriend, his name is Richard," she said during an exclusive telephone interview with AP.
The couple waited until the end of Charlotte Motor Speedway's weeklong annual media tour to go public with their relationship, which started as a friendship as they raced each other the last two seasons in the Nationwide Series. Stenhouse became a mentor of sorts to the 30-year-old Patrick, who left IndyCar after the 2011 season to make the full-time switch to NASCAR. Stenhouse, 25, confirmed the relationship. "Yes we are dating," he said. "I don't normally say too much about my private life, always been focused on the track. I didn't want to confirm at media day so that we could keep the focus on the season, the Gen-6 (car), my sponsors and team. That's what it's all about for me." Patrick announced in November she and husband Paul Hospenthal were divorcing after seven years, and said in the Jan. 3 filing that her marriage to the 47-year-old Hospenthal was "irretrievably broken."(full story at the Associated Press)(1-25-2013)

Ford Racing - RPM & RFR Notes from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour: the first stop on the final day of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour was at the hotel where Ford drivers from Richard Petty Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing talked and met with the media: Some notes from Twitter world
Roush on working with Penske: "They have a dramatically different car than our car. The underbody and the suspension doesn't relate."
Robbie Reiser promoted from general manager to vice president of competition at Roush Fenway.
Roger Penske says his team's main contact with the RFR is Robbie Reiser.
Jack Roush said he's looking to put Trevor Bayne in a Cup car, full-time for the 2014 season, depending on sponsorship and driver performace.
Roush Fenway Racing had 9 sponsors up for renewal entering 2012 who are back.
There is sponsorhip available for #17-Stenhouse.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was asked directly whether he is dating Danica Patrick. He said he preferred not to talk about his personal life.
Smithfield Foods will expand the number of races it will sponsor the #43 to 25 races.
Marcos Ambrose shaved off his bushy beard he sported at testing.
(from many Twitter reports/feeds)(1-24-2013)

Danica vs. Ricky for Rookie of the Year: For the first time since 2006, when Denny Hamlin beat out Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and a host of others, there's a legitimate rookie of the year battle. It's not a deep class, but the intrigue of two-time Nationwide Series champion #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. going against former IndyCar star #10-Danica Patrick will draw a lot of attention.(ESPN), the rule used to be once a driver ran more then seven races in a season, they were not eligible for Rookie of the Year, but the rules changed when NASCAR required drivers to declare which seres to accrue points for.(1-11-2013)

2013 silly season notes for #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. / Roush Fenway Racing: Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. moves up to the Sprint Cup level in 2013. Stenhouse Jr. will run for the Rookie of the Year and take over the #17 from Matt Kenseth, who ran the car since 2000. Scott Graves will lead the #17 team as the crew chief. Graves worked with Stenhouse Jr. in his three final Sprint Cup starts in 2012. Graves did a lot of R&D work for RFR on the 2013 car. Best Buy will be the sponsor for 12 races. Zest for an unknown number of races and Fifth Third Bank for four races. See images of the Best Buy, Zest and Fifth Third Bank schemes on my #17 Team Schemes page. See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart.(1-8-2013)

Logano & Stenhouse Jr. bring holiday cheer to Troops on USO tour: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano and two-time and reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recently teamed up with the USO to deliver good times and holiday cheer to troops overseas in the Middle East and Germany. Logano and Stenhouse extended America's thanks to men and women in uniform, and let them know their service, sacrifice and dedication are appreciated - not just during the holiday season but every day. After meeting troops serving in the Middle East and Germany, they wrapped up their USO tour by visiting recovering warriors at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, also located in Germany.
In all, Logano and Stenhouse visited six installations and touched the lives of hundreds of service men and women overseas. The tour was part of an ongoing partnership with the USO that continues to strengthen the connection between the military and motorsports. During this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week in Las Vegas, NASCAR teamed up with the USO to host healing heroes and their families at NASCAR Victory Lap and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards.
This was the second USO tour for Logano, who last year, along with 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, visited hundreds of troops and military families stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This was the first USO tour experience for Stenhouse.
"We had the chance to meet some amazing men and women on our USO tour," said Logano. "I have so much respect for our troops; they do their jobs day in and day out without complaint and are always giving it their all. We are lucky to have these men and women serving and protecting our country, and I can't thank them enough for all that they do."
"My first USO tour was an amazing experience. It was an honor to meet our troops and see them in action," Stenhouse said. "The service and sacrifice of these men and women and their families are inspiring, and I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for what they do for our country." More about the USO and usowishbook.org and uso.org.(NASCAR), see images at uso.box.com.(12-13-2012)

#17 & #99 to swap crews for 2013? Stenhouse crew chief? UPDATE 2: hearing that the #17 & #99 pit crews will swap for the 2013 season. Current crew chief of the #17, Jimmy Fennig could move over to the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards or go back to his position in Roush Fenway's R&D Department. Supposedly Scott Graves, who currently is Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s crew chief when he drives the #6 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, will move over to the #17 Sprint Cup Series ride with Stenhouse when he moves to the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Edwards could end up with Fenning as his crew chief, or keep Chad Norris. his current crew chief. Also, former Edwards crew chief, Bob Osbourne could return to the #99 pitbox. In September Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush said he didn't expect any crew chief changes for the team in 2013 and that Osbourne's "health is still a question mark.''(11-9-2012)UPDATE: veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig will move to the #99 team with driver Carl Edwards. Fennig replaces Chad Norris, who filled in after Bob Osborne stepped down in July due to health concerns. Norris is expected to oversee the #60 Nationwide Series team. Scott Graves, who has been working as Edwards' team engineer, will take the reins for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s rookie campaign.(FoxSports)(11-14-2012)UPDATE 3 Roush Fenway Racing has announced that veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig will lead Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Fenway Sprint Cup team in its championship run in 2013. In addition, up and coming crew chief Scott Graves will lead the #17 team and defending Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during his rookie campaign next season. "We are excited about this change on both fronts," said team owner Jack Roush. "Pairing two highly successful veterans like Carl and Jimmy should be quite a matchup and it is our expectation based on what Jimmy has been able to accomplish with many high profile drivers, that it will provide the spark to get the #99 program and Carl back into championship form. However, we are particularly excited about teaming up Scott Graves and Ricky. Through his extensive research and development work, Scott has an excellent understanding of the new 2013 body style. In his short time as a crew chief he has demonstrated a cunning knack as a leader on the pit box and he is going to be a great match for Ricky as he makes his move upwards into the Sprint Cup ranks."(Roush Fenway Racing)(11-15-2012)

3000th Cup start for Roush Fenway: This is a milestone week for Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush, whose organization celebrates its 3,000th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Roush's Ford team made its series debut on Feb. 14, 1988, when Mark Martin finished 41st in the Daytona 500. Since then, Roush has celebrated 130 victories - most recently last weekend, when Matt Kenseth drove his #17 Ford into Victory Lane at Kansas Speedway.(NASCAR)(10-24-2012)

Kenseth wins at Kansas:#17-Matt Kenseth won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 3rd win of year and 24th career win.
#56-Truex, Jr. finished 2nd followed by #27-Menard, #5-Kahne, #14-Steart, #15-Bowyer, #88-Smith, #2-Keselowski, #48-Johnson, and #24-Gordon.
#48-Johnson led a lap early in the race while #2-Keselowski did not lead a lap. With Johnson finishing just behind Keselowski, Keselowski's points lead remains at 7.
There were a season high 14 cautions for 66 yellow flag laps. There were 16 lead changes among 10X drivers. The average speed was 115.086mph.
The estimated attendence was 78,000, up from 75,000 in the spring race but down from 82,000 last October.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Kansas Race Results page (pdf) and the official race and points rundown on the Official Race & Points Report.
See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf)
For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(10-21-2012)

Kenseth wins at Talladega:#17-Matt Kenseth won the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 2nd win of year and 23rd career win.
#24-Gordon finished 2nd followed by #18-Busch,#34-Ragan, #78-Smith, #16-Biffle, #2-Keselowski, #93-Kvapil, #39-Newman, and #31-Burton.
The race finished under caution after a big wreck on the final lap that collected 25 cars, including many chase contenders. #14-Stewart was leading when he pulled down to block #55-Waltrip. He got turned around and everyone was collected after that. NASCAR had to review video after the race to determine many finishing positions.
#2-Keselowski retains the points lead with 2179, a lead of 14 points over #48-Johnson.
There were 5 cautions for 17 yellow flag laps. There were 54 lead changes among 18 drivers. The average speed was 171.194mph.
The estimated attendence was 88,000, down from 108,500 in May and down from 105,000 last October.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Talladega Race Results page (pdf) and the official race and points rundown on the Official Talladega Race & Points Report.(10-7-2012)

Kenseth will get a new spotter at Joe Gibbs Racing Mike Calinoff will end his long run as spotter for former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth at season's end, remaining with Roush Fenway Racing when Kenseth jumps to Joe Gibbs Racing next season. Calinoff has remained mum about his plans for 2013, but Kenseth revealed this weekend that his longtime spotter will move on. Asked via Twitter whether Calinoff will accompany him to JGR and the #20 Home Depot Toyota, Kenseth replied "No, he is a great spotter, I will miss him." Calinoff subsequently confirmed those plans, revleaing that he will spot for 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. when Stenhouse takes the wheel of Roush Fenway's #17 Ford next season. He currently serves as Stenhouse's "eye in the sky" in Nationwide Series competition, and also spots for youngster Nelson Piquet, Jr. on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Godfather Motorsports)(10-7-2012)

Best Buy sponsoring Stenhouse at Charlotte: Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will pilot the #6 Best Buy Ford in the October 13th Sprint Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stenhouse, along with RFR teammate Matt Kenseth, will form a formidable pair of Best Buy Fords, with Kenseth's #17 Fusion also featuring the Best Buy blue and yellow for the event. It will mark the first time that Best Buy has sponsored two cars in a single race, with race fans treated to both the present and the future of the sport with the unique 'one-two punch' of Roush Fenway's first Sprint Cup Champion in Kenseth and its latest NASCAR Champion in the youthful Stenhouse. The race will be Stenhouse's third Sprint Cup event of the season and his fourth career Cup start.(Roush Fenway)(10-4-2012)

Roush Fenway looking for 700th top 5: This weekend Roush Fenway Racing will look for its monumental 700th NASCAR Sprint Cup top-five finish as NASCAR rolls into the "Monster Mile" at Dover International Speedway. The team earned its first top-five finish on April 10, 1988 at Bristol Motor Speedway, with a second-place finish that saw Mark Martin edge out future Hall-of-Famers Rusty Wallace, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. The finish came in RFR's sixth career NASCAR start. As an organization Roush Fenway has totaled no less than 11 top-five finishes in any Cup season since 1989. The team set an organizational record with 61 top-five finishes in 2005, the same year it placed all five of its Sprint Cup entries inside the 10-race "Chase" for the Cup. The team scored 50 top-five Cup finishes in 2008 and 45 in 1998. Roush Fenway has totaled 30 or more top-five Sprint Cup finishes in 12 of its 24 completed seasons.(Roush Fenway)(9-29-2012)

Kenseth goes pink at Talladega: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 for Roush Fenway Racing, will sport a pink Ford Fusion when he rolls into Talladega Superspeedway for the Oct. 5-7 Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 weekend. The pink ride came about through a partnership between Roush Fenway Racing, Talladega Superspeedway and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition to Kenseth's pink ride, Roush Fenway Racing is also auctioning off an honorary pit crew experience to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Fans can bid on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through the NASCAR Foundation auction page. Bidding for the honorary pit crew experience with the No. 17 team closes at 8:00pm EST on Monday, October 1st. "When it comes to spreading the message of early detection of breast cancer, we need partners like Talladega Superspeedway and Roush Fenway Racing," says NBCF Founder & CEO, Janelle Hail. "Their support will help us fulfill our mission to save lives by providing free mammograms for the underserved, and their tradition of excellence and winning spirit will inspire hope in the many NASCAR fans and families that are facing this disease today."(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(9-27-2012)

Fifth Third returns to #17 to sponsor Stenhouse in 2013 UPDATE: Fifth Third Bank will sponsor Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Fifth Third is sponsoring the same car it backed earlier this season, but with a different driver [Matt Kenseth]. Stenhouse will drive the #17 Fifth Third Ford Fusion next season. Fifth Third will be the primary sponsor of Stenhouse at Daytona, Michigan, Kentucky and Martinsville next year and an associate sponsor at all other Sprint Cup races in 2013. It also will be the primary sponsor of Stenhouse's #6 Ford at this year's last Sprint Cup race of the season, the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 18. Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, which owns the car, said Fifth Third is one of three main sponsors of Stenhouse and the #17 team. "We have seen Ricky develop into a NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and we're pleased to provide this opportunity for him to begin his Sprint Cup Series career next season with Fifth Third Bank, Best Buy and Zest on board," Roush said. The deal follows a Fifth Third sponsorship announced in May of Matt Kenseth driving the same #17 Fifth Third Ford Fusion for four races this summer (Business Courier ), Kenseth will leave the team after 2012 and drive the #20 Job Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2013.(9-21-2012)UPDATE: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run at least three Sprint Cup races for Roush Fenway Racing - Dover, Charlotte and Homestead - during the remainder of this season. "Right now, we're organized for three races with him at Dover, Charlotte and Homestead," said Jack Roush, "but if we decide his prospects for winning the Nationwide championship are improved by running more Sprint Cup races, we'll do that, and if we decide there's a sponsor that expresses interest and wants to take a look at him, or to be on board for an additional venue, we'll do that as well."(Gaston Gazette)(9-23-2012)

Best Buy Unveils Evolved Viewing Experience for Sports Fans: Best Buy launched the Best Buy Evolved Viewing Experience at Chicagoland Speedway. The Best Buy Evolved Viewing Experience showcases what you can do when you combine normal technology with some imagination and innovation resulting in an out-of-this-world experience. Optimized for racing, Best Buy partnered with Two Bit Circus to create a fully immersive experience for fans that makes them feel like they are actually part of the race. Best Buy launched the Evolved Viewing Experience in Chicago as part of its Roush Fenway Racing sponsorship activation program. In addition to the Chicago launch, the Best Buy Evolved Viewing Experience will be at track in Charlotte and Homestead during the Chase races this season. Best Buy has been a team sponsor for the past eight years, and the 2013 season will mark the company's ninth year with the sport.(RFR)(9-22-2012)

Sponsors returning to #17 team in 2013: UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing confirmed that 2011 Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., will pilot its historic #17 Ford Fusion next season in the Sprint Cup Series. One of the emerging talents in NASCAR, Stenhouse steps into a championship-caliber program in the # 17, with current team partners Best Buy, Fifth Third Bank and Zest each returning to the team as primary sponsors in 2013. "I can't think of a better fit for Ricky than the #17 team," added Jack Roush. "Ricky will have the luxury of being flanked by a championship-level team from the start. His drive, determination and commitment to winning will mesh very well with the demeanor of the #17 team. It will be our job to put him in the best equipment possible, as well as to guide him through the learning curves that are part of his rookie season. Best Buy, Fifth Third Bank and Zest each joined Roush Fenway's #17 team as primary partners in 2012. These three partners will return to the #17 again next year, with each increasing their commitment in 2013 for Stenhouse's entry into Sprint Cup competition. With their involvement, the majority of Stenhouse's races for 2013 are fully sponsored.(Roush Fenway)(9-14-2012)UPDATE: Roush Fenway announced that Best Buy, Fifth Third Bank and Zest will increase their sponsorship roles with the organization in 2013. Best Buy will be on Stenhouse's car for 12 races and #99-Carl Edwards' car for four, an increase of three races. Team president Steve Newmark said the #17 is 70 percent sponsored for next year, calling it a good sign since this time a year ago there was 100 percent availability for 2012 with Kenseth. Newmark said RFR's goal is to return to four cars in 2014. The organization shrank to three teams this season due to lack of sponsorship for the #6 car.(ESPN)(9-15-2012)

No crew chief changes expected at Roush next season: Team owner Jack Roush said on Friday at Chicagoland Speedway that he anticipates Jimmy Fennig remaining the crew chief for the #17 team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. when he replaces Matt Kenseth. Kenseth is leaving the organization to drive the #20 at Joe Gibbs Racing next year. Roush also anticipates Chad Norris, who replaced Bob Osborne in mid-July due to unspecified health issues, to remain with #99-Carl Edwards. #16-Greg Biffle and crew chief Matt Puccia, who led the standings before they were reshuffled to reflect wins for Sunday's Chase opener, also are staying together. "Bob, his health is still a question mark,'' Roush said. "Chad Norris has done a great job. The team has rallied around Chad. There is no reason for me to believe from what I've seen so far that Chad won't be able to build that team to carry forward in 2013.'' Roush gave a similar evaluation of Fennig staying with Stenhouse.(ESPN)(9-14-2012)

It's Official - Matt Kenseth signs with Joe Gibbs Racing: Joe Gibbs Racing announced that 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner, Matt Kenseth, has signed with the team to drive the #20 Toyota Camry with sponsorship from Dollar General and The Home Depot starting in 2013. "We are thrilled to be able to officially announce Matt will join Joe Gibbs Racing starting at the conclusion of this season," said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. "Everyone knows what he has accomplished in our sport as a champion and a consistent winner. He is well respected in the garage and his experience and knowledge will be extremely beneficial to our entire organization, especially Denny and Kyle." Kenseth is currently third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings with a win, nine top-five and 14 top-ten finishes thus far this season. Over the course of his career he has won a total of 22 Cup races while earning 122 top-five and 223 top-ten finishes.
"I'm excited to announce what the next chapter in my career will be," said Kenseth. "I remain totally committed to this season and working with my current team toward a championship and having this settled will only help my focus. JGR is an impressive organization with tremendous leadership and strong support from sponsors like Dollar General and The Home Depot. I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to move from one great situation into another starting in 2013."(JGR), Gibbs also said during the press conference that Jason Ratcliff would remain as the crew chief for the #20 team.(9-4-2012)

Stewart talks about run in with Kenseth and helmet: #14-Tony Stewart, met with members of the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway and discussed some topics including the incident with #17-Matt Kenseth at Bristol, the transcript in part:Q) YOU AND MATT (KENSETH) TALKED THIS MORNING IS EVERYTHING GOOD BETWEEN YOU TWO THEN?Stewart: "Yeah, we are fine. It's like we mentioned earlier in the week, we have too much to do the last 10 weeks to be worrying about each other. It's just like we always said there are 43 people out there and they are not always going to agree on the track at the same time. The big thing is getting it done and over with now."Q) THIS SPORT WAS BASICALLY THRUST INTO THE MAINSTREAM IN 1979 WHEN CALE (YARBOROUGH) AND DONNIE (ALLISON) WENT AFTER IT IN A FIGHT. THE FANS APPRECIATION FOR THAT RAW EMOTION HASN'T CHANGED ANY OVER THE YEARS. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT RESONATES SO MUCH WITH THE FANS?Stewart: "I don't know it still makes me wonder why NASCAR won't let that moment be relived fully. People like emotion every other sport gets a cool off period, every other sport you get time to calm down where our deal it's a little bit different we don't have that. It's not like one play is a bad play and you go to another play the bad deal for us is we are done for the day. That is where it's different."Q) IF YOU GET THAT HELMET BACK WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?Stewart: "Charity auction if I get it back. For some reason it's MIA (Missing in action)."Q) IT MIGHT END UP IN THE HALL OF FAME...Stewart: "That's fine too if it ends up in the hall of fame so be it. There have been a lot of charities that have asked to have that for an auction right now."Q) HAVE YOU ASKED FOR IT (THE HELMET) BACK?Stewart: "No, not yet."(Team Chevy)(9-1-2012)

Comments from Kenseth about Bristol incident: #17-Matt Kenseth met the media shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday. Afterwards, he met with Tony Stewart to discuss the much-discussed incident at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend that resulted in Stewart hurling his helmet at Kenseth's #17 Ford. "Honestly, last week I was really surprised," Kenseth said. "I wasn't trying to put our cars in a bad situation. I thought we were going to make it through there and I thought it was going to be alright, so I'm not sure what all went down there. But Tony and I, 99% of the time at least, show each other probably more respect and more room on the track than probably most people have. There have been a couple instances here and there, but I think, overall, we try to show each other a lot of respect and we usually get that back."(RacinToday)(9-1-2012)

JGR to announce Kenseth as driver next week: Joe Gibbs Racing plans to announce next Tuesday [Sept. 4th] that Matt Kenseth will be its newest driver beginning in 2013. The 2003 Sprint Cup champion will take over the #20 team driven by Joey Logano with Home Depot as his primary sponsor. JGR president J.D. Gibbs said on Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway he still held out hope of re-signing Logano and adding a fourth team if sponsorship can be found. Logano is not expected to be a part of Tuesday's press conference. Logano also is a candidate for the #22 Cup team at Penske Racing. He recently said he was not interesting in a part-time Cup ride and full-time Nationwide Series ride that was one of his options at JGR. "He was OK with that until another opportunity came up," Gibbs said of Logano.(ESPN)(8-29-2012)

Kenseth still not talking about 2013 deal: #17-Matt Kenseth isn't exactly a man without a race team, but he still hasn't announced his deal for next year. It's a poorly kept secret that Kenseth will be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013, but sources have told the NASCAR Wire Service that Kenseth is embargoed contractually from announcing his new ride until a later date, perhaps before the end of August. Asked about the possible timing of the announcement, Kenseth was typically circumspect. "I would if I knew, but I don't know," Kenseth said. But is the deal for next year still in place? "I hope so," Kenseth said with a laugh.(NASCAR Wire Service)(8-12-2012)

Ford EcoBoost returns for Kenseth: #17-Matt Kenseth may never lay claim to being 'King of the Road' when it comes to turning left and right in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but the 2003 series champion isn't about give up trying as he prepares for Sunday's annual Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen. In 25 career road course starts, Kenseth is still looking for his first victory and first top-five finish. In the only other such event this season at Sonoma in June, the Wisconsin native finished 13th but this figures to be tougher for Kenseth, who has only three top-10 performances in 12 all-time appearances at famed Watkins Glen International. Besides trying to get his initial victory on a road course, Kenseth will also be looking to get the #17 EcoBoost Ford Fusion its first series triumph. This is the seventh time in 2012 that Kenseth will be carrying the EcoBoost brand, which is in the midst of a global motorsports marketing campaign to raise its visibility among fans.(Ford Racing), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(8-9-2012)

Roush says Penske will use Roush-Yates engines: UPDATES: Jack Roush says Penske has decided to run Roush-Yates Ford engines next season. Penske has said he will not be shutting down the 80-man operation he currently has, but it would seem unlikely that Ford would care for one of its star new players to also continue building Dodge engines on the side. A possible sale of that engine shop to Dodge itself has been speculated as the only logical solution.
Roush: "Roger and I will cooperate on things that are in our common interests, and we will compete on things that reflect our need to be independent and justify our space on the race track. We've done the bulk of the work on the 2013 car; we did invite them to have a look at what we've done in concert with Ford, and made sure we had their blessing, along with the other Ford teams involved. The indication are -- though I don't know if the papers have been signed yet -- that he will use our engines. He does have a few things he does different with his cars and the way the engines are mounted; so we'll respect his experience and his package preference. Whether we wind up with the same package for all Ford cars or not is yet to be determined."
Roush, asked about the possibility of Penske becoming a business partner with Roush and Doug Yates in the engine operations, said "There is no plan on the table for Roger for any ownership in the engine program. But I stop short of saying that would never be a consideration going forward."(MikeMulhern.net)(8-4-2012)UPDATE: Roush Yates Engines announced that it will provide Ford FR9 engines to Penske Racing beginning with the 2013 NASCAR season. Penske Racing announced earlier this year that it would be returning to Ford Racing in 2013 in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. "It's truly an honor to provide Penske Racing with Roush Yates Ford engines," said Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates. "I have always admired Roger Penske as a team owner and a respected businessman in our sport and beyond. I am looking forward to many wins, championships, and other successes in supporting the Penske organization." Penske Racing fielded Ford entries from 1991 through 2002. "Ford has been consistent in its belief that we will be stronger with one engine specification rather than continuing with an independent approach," said Tim Cindric, President of Penske Racing. "Roush Yates has a proven record and we are looking forward to many successes together."(Roush Yates)(8-6-2012)UPDATE 2: Penske Racing will switch to Roush Yates horsepower in its 2013 move to Ford in the Sprint Cup Series, but the team still is exploring ways to keep its 63 engine employees. Penske President Tim Cindric told USA Today Sports that still building motors for Dodge teams in NASCAR's premier series wouldn't be an option, though. "Relative to us, they said they're going in a different direction," Cindric said. "We don't see there being any more potential on the NASCAR side with Dodge." Cindric said Penske has explored sending some of its engine staff to Roush Yates, reassigning others within Penske Racing and perhaps pursuing engine projects in other series with the rest of the employees in a scaled-down engine room. "We feel our biggest asset wasn't the (horsepower) but the people," Cindric said. "That's a strong group of people we didn't want to break up."(USA Today)(8-7-2012)

Roush Fenway names Senior VP: Roush Fenway Racing has announced the addition of sports marketing veteran Pete Thuresson to its marketing operations. Thuresson will serve as senior vice president of sales and business development, overseeing Roush Fenway's business development and marketing partnership efforts. A 20-plus year veteran of sports marketing, Thuresson boasts an extensive background in partnership management and industry marketing. He previously headed up national partnerships for FOX Sports in Chicago.(Roush Fenway Racing)(8-2-2012)

Kenseth can't talk about 2013 deal yet but: Matt Kenseth will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013, but according to multiple sources, the Sprint Cup points leader can't talk about it until mid- to late-August at the earliest due to a stipulation in his current contract with Roush Fenway Racing. Roush announced last month that the 2003 Sprint Cup champion was leaving after the 2012 season and would be replaced by reigning Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kenseth confirmed at the time he has a deal for 2013, but declined to discuss details. RFR officials declined to comment on any portion of Kenseth's contract. Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs declined on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to comment on Kenseth's situation. But Gibbs said the goal was to have four teams in 2013, and that every effort was being made to re-sign Joey Logano, whose contract expires after this season, if sponsorship can be found. "We want him to retire at JGR," Gibbs said. "We're trying to figure out how to make all of that work." Sources said Kenseth would take over the Home Depot and likely Dollar General sponsors currently on Logano's #20 Toyota. They left open the possibility of Kenseth running the #20 or another number. Sources said JGR has looked at several options for Logano, from running a full-time Nationwide schedule and part-time Cup schedule to running a full-time Cup schedule with a part-time or full-time Nationwide slate. "We've talked a number of different potentials, but obviously we'd like him to be in Cup full-time," Gibbs said. Logano also has been shopping for other options in 2013. The #22 car at Penske Racing could become one spot with driver AJ Allmendinger indefinitely suspended for violating NASCAR's drug policy. Kenseth isn't talking to anybody, at least not about his future after Roush. "No," he recently said when asked if he could shed light on his 2013 plans. "I hoped to do it a couple of weeks ago. I don' t know when it's gonna happen. You guys will know the same time I do, I guess."(ESPN)(7-30-2012)

Ford EcoBoost Will be Seen Around the World: EcoBoost is taking over the world - at least when it comes to Ford Motor Company's motorsports program in the month of August. Ford's latest engine technology, which provides increased fuel efficiency and decreased emissions without sacrificing power, has been a major hit with consumers worldwide. Beginning with the first weekend in August, motorsports fans will get a heavy dose of Ford EcoBoost highlighted through a unique livery on selected racing vehicles around the world. Ford will use its North American racing programs in NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide, NHRA drag racing and Best in the Desert, while its FIA World Rally Championship and China Touring Car Championship programs will also participate. The livery campaign kicks off on the weekend of Aug. 3-5 with NHRA in Seattle and the World Rally Championship event in Finland. The promotion will continue the following weekend of August 10-12 at Watkins Glen International as champion drivers Matt Kenseth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, respectively. Kenseth will be in his #17 Ford EcoBoost Fusion while Stenhouse drives his #6 Ford EcoBoost Mustang. Two other series will round out the Ford EcoBoost blitz August 17-19 in the Las Vegas to Reno off-road race sanctioned by the Best in the Desert Racing Association and at the China Touring Car Championship event at the Ordos International Circuit in China. The Ford EcoBoost livery made its debut on the 2013 NASCAR Fusion that debuted in January and race fans have also seen the livery debut earlier this year in series such at Rally America and Formula Ford Great Britain.(Roush Yates)(7-27-2012)

Kenseth remains mum on team switch: For nearly two weeks, #17-Matt Kenseth has been hounded by one question. And moments after guiding his Harley-Davidson into Bristol Motor Speedway Tuesday afternoon, the NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader heard it again. Now that his profitable 14-year partnership with car owner Jack Roush is over, just what team will Kenseth drive for next season? Once again, Kenseth deftly danced around the answer. "We've been together forever with Roush," Kenseth said. "Three or four years ago we made a commitment to race together through 2012. That never got extended through 2013, so we will just race as hard as we can until the end of this season." The hottest rumor involves Kenseth landing at Joe Gibbs Racing. Meanwhile, defending Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will replace Kenseth in the familiar #17 Ford next season. Kenseth was in Bristol Tuesday as part of the NASCAR Winner's Circle program to promote the IRWIN Tools Night Race at BMS on Aug. 25. Along with NASCAR television personality Kyle Petty, Kenseth rode his motorcycle from Smokies Park in Sevierville to BMS with members of Rolling Thunder, a group made up mostly of military veterans. Rolling Thunder's purpose is to bring awareness to those military members who were prisoners of war or are missing in action. The 40-year-old Kenseth refused to offer any hints as to his future place of employment. He added that he hasn't discussed the issue with fellow competitors. "I really haven't talked to anyone about it, except for the parties involved," Kenseth said. "After Roush put the release out that I wasn't going to be back in 2013 and I got through last weekend, it was almost a relief in a way because the last two or three months have been somewhat stressful. I wasn't sure what I was going to do and what was going to happen. With all that being out there now, I can just concentrate on the season." #24-Jeff Gordon, who has been affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports since 1993, is the only NASCAR Sprint Cup driver who has a longer partnership than Kenseth and Roush.(Bristol Herald Courier)BUT am hearing the Kenseth will be in the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with Home Depot and Dollar Genreal as the primary co-sponsors. Current driver Joey Logano could end up in a 4th JGR Toyota or could head elsewhere, such as the #22 Penske Racing Ford if A.J. Allmendinger doesn't return to that ride in 2013.(7-11-2012)

Different look for Kenseth at New Hampshire: This weekend at Loudon NH at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Matt Kenseth will pilot the #17 NESN National Ford Fusion where he has an average starting position of 20.7 and an average finishing position of 14.0 (RFR). The New England Sports Network (NESN) is owned by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins and delivered to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region and nationally as NESN National. The definitive source for New England sports programming, NESN has consistently been one of the top rated regional sports network in the country and was the first regional sports network in the country to originate every game and studio show in high definition.(7-10-2012)

Kenseth wins Slinger Nationals; Kyle Busch second: Matt Kenseth has won a NASCAR championship. He's won two Daytona 500s. And now he's won a record six titles in the 33-year history of the Miller Lite Slinger Nationals. While that's not quite the same, it's not a bad accomplishment, either, for the old-school short-track racer from Cambridge. "It's always fun to win, that's for sure," Kenseth said Sunday in Slinger Speedway's victory lane. "It's always fun when you can beat Kyle. It's hard to beat him." That's Kyle Busch, always a threat in NASCAR and the 2011 Nationals champ. Kenseth beat him on a restart with 24 laps to go - after a caution flag he didn't want - and pulled away by nearly a second at the checkered flag. Busch didn't look happy when he climbed from his car and did not talk to reporters. Ross Kenseth, Matt's son and the pole-sitter, rallied and benefited from attrition to finish third, another second behind. Michael Bilderback and Rich Bickle filled out the top five.(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)(7-2-2012)

Roush would like to have kept Kenseth: NASCAR team owner Jack Roush said Friday he was surprised to learn Matt Kenseth was leaving Roush Fenway Racing, and Roush wished he would have done more things to keep him. RFR announced Tuesday that Kenseth would leave the organization at the end of the season and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the defending Nationwide Series champion, will replace Kenseth in the #17 Ford in Sprint Cup. "I will say I was surprised when I learned [Kenseth] would not be signing with us," Roush said at Kentucky Speedway. "I won't comment on any of the negotiations because we have an agreement not to talk about that." But Roush added that he probably could have done more to re-sign Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, had he known Kenseth was serious about leaving. "If I was as diligent on that end as I am about finding out why a fuel pump broke, I might have been able to stop it," Roush said. "From my standpoint, he will be moving to the dark side. But the friendship part for us will survive. I've not lost respect for Matt and I hope he hasn't for me. I've enjoyed the 15 years with Matt and the success he's had as a driver. He is a cornerstone here and his DNA is all over this organization."(ESPN.com)(6-30-2012)

Logano says no change in his status: #20-Joey Logano didn't know anything more about his 2013 plans Friday than he did Tuesday morning before Roush Fenway Racing announced that Matt Kenseth was leaving its organization. Kenseth is expected to join Joe Gibbs Racing, either in a fourth car or as a replacement for Logano, who does not have a contract for next year. "I've heard nothing new," Logano said following qualifying at Kentucky Speedway. "We're still up in the air on a lot of things." Team president J.D. Gibbs said Wednesday that he would like Logano to remain at JGR long term but the sides don't have a deal done for 2013. Gibbs declined to discuss whether Kenseth was joining the organization. "We want (Logano) to be here forever," Gibbs said Wednesday. "That's kind of what we're working on. Until you have stuff laid out (and can say), 'Here's the plan,' it's not really worth talking about."(Sporting News)(6-30-2012)

No Cup champion has changed teams at end of year: Looking back at the history of the Chase, we've had just five drivers qualify knowing they'd be with a different organization - or not even racing - the following season. None of them were in serious contention for the title, and just one finished inside the top 5:
Year, Driver, Pending Silly Season Move, Points Finish
2005: Rusty Wallace (from Penske to retirement) - 8th
2005: Kurt Busch (from Roush to Penske) - 10th
2006: Mark Martin (from Roush to part-time schedule with Bobby Ginn) - 9th
2007: Kyle Busch (from Hendrick to Gibbs) - 5th
2008: Tony Stewart (from Gibbs to self-owned team) - 9th
[2012: Matt Kenseth (Roush to Gibbs?) - ?]
(Frontstretch)(6-29-2012)

Kenseth leaving Roush: UPDATES: #17-Matt Kenseth declined to discuss his future with Roush Fenway Racing before Sunday's race at Sonoma, where there was rampant speculation he's been talking to other race teams. Kenseth acts as his own agent, and has been with Roush his entire career. But his #17 Ford has limited sponsorship, and team owner Jack Roush has been paying out of his own pocket to ensure Kenseth runs a full season. "You know I don't talk about my contract," Kenseth said. "I'd like to have something to tell you, but I don't have anything to talk about right now. Until I have something to announce, I don't talk about it."
Everybody else was talking, though, and Kenseth's name this weekend was linked to both Joe Gibbs Racing, a Toyota team, and Penske Racing, which is moving from Dodge to Ford in 2013. Kenseth is a longtime Ford driver. JGR team president J.D. Gibbs declined to discuss any possible negotiations with Kenseth. JGR not only has room for expansion to a fourth car, but Joey Logano's status as driver of the #20 is currently unresolved. Logano is in the final year of his contract. "I'm not allowed to talk," he said.
Roger Penske was not at Sunday's race, but senior vice president of Penske Corp., Bud Denker said the team is not talking to Kenseth and is content with AJ Allmendinger in the #22. "Our expectations are that AJ will be in the car and Todd (Gordon) will be the crew chief next year," Denker said. "So we are not talking to Matt, that's confirmed." The Penske move to Ford has led to talk the organization could be a potential home for Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. or 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, who are both in long-term contracts with Roush but are stymied because of sponsorship woes.(ESPN/Associated Press)(6-24-2012)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announced that 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will compete for the team full-time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition beginning in 2013, while Matt Kenseth and Roush Fenway will part ways at the conclusion of the 2012 season. "Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has more than proved his abilities on the race track," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "We feel that he is not only a key piece of our team's future, but a key piece of the future of the sport. Roush Fenway is an organization with a wonderful past and present, as well as an extremely promising future, and I can't think of a better candidate than Ricky to usher in the next era of success for the team. Of course, I'd like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service," added Roush. "Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family."(Roush Fenway Racing)(6-26-2012)UPDATE 2: Statement from Ford's Jamie Allison, "All of us at Ford are certainly disappointed to hear that Matt will be leaving, and he will be certainly missed by us and the Ford Racing fans. We are thankful for Matt's winning efforts and championship-caliber success with the Roush and Ford racing programs these past 16 years, both on and off the track. We will focus on this year and look forward to more success on the track in his #17 Ford Fusion this season."(Ford Racing)(6-27-2012)UPDATE 3: Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark said Roush Fenway's likely 2013 scenario would be for the organization to have three Cup teams with #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle and Stenhouse while Trevor Bayne, who currently runs a part-time Cup schedule for Wood Brothers Racing and select Nationwide races for Roush Fenway, would replace Stenhouse in the team's full-time Nationwide car. Whether current Kenseth crew chief Jimmy Fennig will be Stenhouse's crew chief is still to be determined, Newmark said.(Sporting News)(6-27-2012)UPDATE 4: Matt Kenseth has a Sprint Cup ride in place for 2013 and beyond, the NASCAR point leader from Cambridge told the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday in his first print media interview since announcing he would leave Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the season. When that deal is announced is undetermined, Kenseth said. The decision to leave was made in a meeting last week with team owner Jack Roush, Kenseth said. "There's a lot of stuff through the season that's probably led us to this point," Kenseth said. "There isn't really a smoking gun, there really isn't an inside story about a firing or an argument or really any of that. At the end of the day, I had an opportunity to go try something else. The timing all worked out. I think everything happens for a reason. Things just kind of lined up to maybe try something else in 2013 and beyond that I'm kind of excited about.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-27-2012)

Roush plane crash in 2010 attributed to pilot error: The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded that the 2010 plane crash in which team owner [#'s 16,17,99] Jack Roush was injured was caused by pilot error. The NTSB released Friday its determination of probable cause in Roush's July 27, 2010 crash at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The report confirmed Roush's version of what happened - that he was concerned about a plane taking off on the same runway where he was landing, causing him to ground-loop his airplane. The NTSB stated that after Roush aborted the landing, he should have throttled to full power instead of throttling to about 33 percent of full power. The NTSB report indicated that Roush could have landed the plane safely, but Roush told investigators that he didn't throttle to full power because he was making sure there were no other planes in the area.(Sporting News), see full NTSB report at ntsb.gov.(6-24-2012)

Roush to drive pace car in Michigan NNS race: What's next for Jack Roush, NASCAR team owner, successful Northville businessman, passionate pilot and two-time plane-crash survivor? What about pace-car driver? "Well, they're going to let me drive the Ford Mustang pace car for today's Nationwide Series race," Roush said Friday. "At 8:30 (in the morning), I'm going to get my instructions. I don't know if they'll let me drive afterwards. My guess is I'll just be in the pace car for one of the preliminary laps and won't be there when it's time to turn them loose for the green flag." Roush, 70, is a very competent driver -- he raced dragsters as a youngster and plenty of muscle cars over the years. Today, Roush will be at the wheel of one of his Roush-built Stage 3 Mustangs to pace the race. The vehicle was donated by Roush for auction with a portion of the proceeds going to the SAE International Foundation for science and math education.(Detroit Free Press)(6-16-2012)

Kenseth interviews himself: With no NASCAR official at the podium when he entered the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center Thursday, #17-Matt Kenseth took control of the situation and introduced himself. "Joining us in the media center right now is Matt Kenseth," he deadpanned. "He comes in second in points. Don't know where he finished last year. Matt, why don't you talk about it." Kenseth scooted from behind the podium microphone to his usual seat at the table and started answering his own question, to the guffaws of a roomful of reporters.(CMS Pit Notes)(5-25-2012)

Roush Fenway Racing to have three Fastenal sponsored cars: Victory Lane can be an elusive destination for many teams and sponsors, but Fastenal has an advantage Sunday night in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway by sponsoring all three of Roush Fenway Racing's Sprint Cup entries. RFR has an impressive record at Charlotte, winning the 600-mile race four times and totaling 20 victories there in NASCAR competition. "Everyone on the Fastenal 'blue team' has been looking forward to this race all season long," said Fastenal president and CEO Will Oberton. "When we started out as a sponsor in the truck series six years ago, we never would have dreamed that we'd see the Fastenal name on three of the premier Cup Series cars in a single race."
The Fastenal "NASCAR Unites" paint schemes will be carried on the #16 of Greg Biffle, the #17 of Matt Kenseth and of course the #99 of Carl Edwards. The three drivers have a combined total of two wins, 15 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes at Charlotte.(Roush Fenway Racing), see images of the schemes on the #16 Team schemes page, #17 Team schemes page and #99 Team schemes page.(5-24-2012)

Roush, Kenseth working on new contract: Despite sponsorship issues, #17-Matt Kenseth's future is secure at Roush Fenway Racing. Team owner Jack Roush said Monday that the 2003 Sprint Cup champion, in the final year of his current contract, will have a ride with RFR as long as he wants one. "Matt Kenseth is a cornerstone of Roush Fenway and he'll be part of it as long as I am, as long as he wants to be,'' Roush said. "He certainly has a place here as long as I'm able to stay at the head of it.'' RFR president Steve Newmark said Kenseth's No. 17 car still has eight to 10 unsponsored races. While sponsorship remains an issue for 2013 as well, Newmark echoed Roush's comments on negotiating a new deal for Kenseth. "It is my hope, expectation and desire that Matt continue with Roush,'' Newmark said. "I expect to see him retire (at Roush). He is an integral part of the organization. When you think of Matt you think of Roush. When you think of Jack you think of Matt Kenseth.'' Newmark said the sponsorship focus at RFR, not only for Kenseth but the entire organization, is on 2013 and getting back to four full-time Cup cars and one full-time Nationwide Series car. The organization shrank to three Cup cars this season when sponsorship couldn't be found for the #6 and David Ragan. The anticipation is Nationwide Series points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will move into the #6 Cup car in 2013 and Trevor Bayne will drive Nationwide full time.(ESPN)(5-15-2012)

New sponsor for Kenseth? number? UPDATE 2: Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to make announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Monday, May 14th for an announcement regarding the new number on Matt Kensethąs #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion, as well as a new multi-year partner for RFR and Kenseth. Kenseth and team co-owner Jack Roush will be on hand for the event.(Roush Fenway Racing), NOTE: the PR doesn't say Kenseth will have a new car number but a new number on the car. And it could be a special number for the All-Star race like last season when Jimmie Johnson ran the #5 in the event.(RFR PR)(5-10-2012)UPDATE: Remember that advisory about the announcement of a "new number" on the two-time Daytona 500 winner's Sprint Cup Series Ford Fusions? "They did what they wanted to do," Kenseth said Friday from Darlington, S.C. "They created a big buzz. That's for sure." Kenseth, a Cambridge, Wis., native who won the 2003 Cup title, said he read the news release like everyone else. Just more carefully than most. "Everybody's kind of worked up about it," he said. "I just read the release at the same time everybody else did, and I didn't read anything in there that said we were changing our car number." An explanation of the "new number" and an announcement of a "new multi-year partner" -- notice it didn't say anything about a full-time primary sponsor -- are scheduled for Monday morning at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(5-12-2012)UPDATE 2:Fifth Third Bancorp announced a multi-year marketing partnership with Roush Fenway Racing, beginning this season with four races as the primary sponsor of Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A similar number of races for the following years will be announced at a later date.
Fifth Third will be the primary sponsor of Kenseth's Ford at four Sprint Cup Series races in 2012 including:
Sprint All Star Race in Charlotte, NC on May 19
Quaker State 400 in Sparta, KY on June 30
Crown Royal's "Your Hero's Name Here" race in Indianapolis, IN on July 29
Pure Michigan 400 in Brooklyn, MI on August 19
"Fifth Third Bank is excited to partner with Roush Fenway Racing and Matt Kenseth on this Sprint Cup Series sponsorship," said Greg Carmichael, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Fifth Third Bancorp. "Our organizations share many common values including a focus on teamwork and a desire to challenge the status quo to be the best at what we do. We are looking forward to working with the Roush Fenway Racing organization, and Matt Kenseth, to help drive our business and build the Fifth Third Bank brand." The partnership between Fifth Third Bank and Roush Fenway Racing was announced Monday, May 14th at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte where the paint scheme for the Fifth Third Ford Fusion was also unveiled.(4-traders.com), see an image of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(5-14-2012)

Roush Fenway Racing to Host Fan Day on May 24: Roush Fenway Racing will host its annual Fan Day on Thursday, May 24 at its Concord, N.C. campus. The Roush Fenway drivers, show cars and sponsor booths will highlight the activities planned that day. The event will kick off at 8am when tickets will be handed out for the autograph sessions. The autograph sessions begin at 10:00am with Roush Fenway drivers Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne and team owner Jack Roush. Then Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle will sign for fans at 11:30am.
Several displays will be on hand along with show cars, free samples, food and a band. The RFR gift shop and museum will also be open extended hours throughout the race weekends at Charlotte. "Our fan day is a great opportunity for people of all ages to get to meet the drivers, see the show cars up close and learn about the wide range of products our sponsors offer," said Jack Roush. "It is a fun way to kick off the Memorial Day race weekend and we enjoy having so many fans visit our facility." Admission is free and fans of all ages are encouraged to attend.(RFR)(5-12-2012)

Fastenal to sponsor all 3 Roush cars in Coca-Cola 600: Fastenal will sponsor all three Roush Fenway Racing entries in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27. The Fastenal paint schemes for #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle and #17-Matt Kenseth will also incorporate the "NASCAR Unites - An American Salute" red, white and blue theme. This is not the first time Fastenal has sponsored the RFR fleet. Last year all three RFR Nationwide Series Fords displayed the Fastenal colors at the Charlotte race in May. The Blue Team placed first (Kenseth), second (Edwards) and fourth (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.).(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-3-2012)

Ross Kenseth Gets His First PASS South Win: Ross Kenseth [son of Matt Kenseth] took his first major Southern Super Late Model victory Saturday night in the PASS South Orange Blossom Special at Orange County Speedway (NC). The victory made Ross Kenseth the second driver to win Super Late Model events in three of the country's top series, the Pro All Star Series, ARCA/CRA Super Series and the ASA Midwest Tour. The other driver was Kyle Busch who complete the task last July in Oxford, Maine.(51 Sports PR, more at rosskenseth.net)(4-24-2012)

Ford EcoBoost to sponsor Kenseth: #17-Matt Kenseth, will sport the primary colors promoting Ford EcoBoost at Kansas Speedway this upcoming weekend. This is the 2nd that the #17 entry for Roush Fenway Racing will carry the Ford EcoBoost paint scheme after running the scheme at Auto Club Speedway in March. Ford EcoBoost technology uses turbo-charging and direct gasoline injection to boost engine output, thus reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency by as much as 20%, see images of car/scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(4-17-2012)

Zest to sponsor Kenseth another race: from Zest's Facebook - "Zest would like to thank all fans for their continued support of our products and our Zestfully Clean driver, #17-Matt Kenseth. Due to this enthusiasm, we are happy to announce we will be sponsoring Matt in another race on May 12th in Darlington, SC.", see images of the car on my #17 Team Schemes page.(4-17-2012)

Kenseth celebrates Daytona 500 win: About a month and a half after winning the 54th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, #17-Matt Kenseth was finally able to reunite with his winning car and celebrate his historic victory with race fans during the Champion's Luncheon at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday afternoon. "It's pretty cool to see (the car) sitting there with all the confetti on it, just like it was sitting in Victory Lane, and seeing the fans lined up out there," said Kenseth, who was joined by his owner Jack Roush and crew chief Jimmy Fennig. "It's unusual to celebrate today, but it was kind of an unusual race so I might as well just keep that going." For the first time in history, rain postponed the start of this year's Daytona 500 as well as the traditional day-after Champion's Breakfast. The "Great American Race" was rescheduled for Monday night, Feb. 27 and a great crowd returned to witness Kenseth hold off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle to capture his second career Daytona 500 triumph. During the Champion's Luncheon, Kenseth, Roush and Fennig took part in a fan forum, signed autographs and participated in media interviews. Kenseth also joined Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III in unveiling the logo for the 2013 Daytona 500 scheduled for February 24, 2013. "It's always good when you see the fans enthused and show up to these events especially a couple months later and on a Wednesday around lunch time," Kenseth said. "It's pretty neat." The confetti-covered #17 Best Buy Ford will remain on display at Gatorade Victory Lane inside the Daytona International Speedway Tours and Ticket Office and will be returned to the team prior to the 2013 Daytona 500.(DIS)(4-12-2012)

Kenseth to return to Daytona for Daytona 500 Champion's Breakfast: Roush Fenway Racing's two-time DAYTONA 500 Champion, #17-Matt Kenseth, is set to return to the site of his historic win this week for a rescheduled fan event celebrating the team's victory. The win in the 54th "Great American Race" also earned a milestone victory for Roush Fenway Racing as the organization earned its 300th NASCAR win in the process. Originally scheduled as the Champion's Breakfast for the morning of February 27, 2012, the event had to be rescheduled after rain showers forced the DAYTONA 500 to be run Monday night on February 28th. The event is open to fans and includes a fan forum question and answer event with Kenseth, team owner Jack Roush, and crew chief of the #17 Best Buy team, Jimmy Fennig. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. and fans will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with the winning No. 17 Best Buy Ford Fusion which is on display at the facility for the next year. Lunch will also be available for those in attendance, and guests will have the opportunity to get a tour of Daytona International Speedway.
Tickets for the original Champion's Breakfast event for February 27, 2012 will be honored for the Champion's Lunch on April 11th. Tickets are also available for $40 by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(Roush Fenway Racing)(4-10-2012)

#17 to honor wounded U.S. Marine at Martinsville: In an effort to salute those who have given so much to protect our freedoms, Roush Fenway Racing and driver of the #17 Ford, Matt Kenseth, will be running a special paint scheme at Martinsville Speedway for the Goody's Fast Relief 500. Kenseth's car will be the #17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and will feature a salute to United States Marine Corps Corporal Josh "J.B." Kerns. Kerns was a combat engineer with the U.S. Marine Corps and was on a mine sweep on April 7, 2011 in Afghanistan during his third tour of duty. An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated nearby and Kerns lost both of his legs along with his right arm due to the blast. Almost a year later after that fateful day, Matt Kenseth will race the #17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford at Martinsville as a tribute to Kerns for the sacrifices he made for this country. As part of their Building for America's Bravest program, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation announced that they will build a "smart home" for Kerns in his hometown of Ararat, Virginia which is located nearby to Martinsville Speedway. As part of the fundraising efforts associated with this program, Lionel NASCAR Collectables will create a die-cast of the #17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and a large portion of those proceeds will go to building Kerns' new smart home.(Roush Fenway Racing), and more info about a fundraiser on Saturday, see my Racing Charities page.(3-27-2012)

Ford EcoBoost to sponsor Kenseth: #17-Matt Kenseth, will sport the primary colors promoting Ford EcoBoost at Auto Club Speedway this upcoming weekend. This is the first time that the #17 entry for Roush Fenway Racing will carry the Ford EcoBoost paint scheme and comes at a track where Kenseth has achieved success at in the past; including three Sprint Cup victories. Ford EcoBoost earned its first NASCAR [Nationwide] victory as a primary sponsor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the #6 Ford [Stenhouse also ran the EcoBoost scheme in the Daytona 500 on the #6 Ford]. Ford EcoBoost technology uses turbo-charging and direct gasoline injection to boost engine output, thus reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency by as much as 20%. Ford will offer fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines in 11 vehicles in 2012, up from seven in 2011, tripling the production capacity of EcoBoost-equipped Ford vehicles. Expanded availability in high-volume nameplates helps make fuel economy more affordable for hundreds of thousands of drivers.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-20-2012)

NASCAR says Kenseth legally beat Keselowski to line on Bristol restart: Generally, there are two cardinal rules when it comes to NASCAR's double-file restarts: don't change lanes before you cross the start/finish line and if you're in second, don't beat the leader to the start/finish line. With 154 laps to go in Sunday's Food City 500, #17-Matt Kenseth restarted second. The leader, #2-Brad Keselowski, was next to him on the inside line. It was the first time the leader had taken the inside line all day. Kenseth clearly beat Keselowski to the start/finish line as you can see in the video above, and the two entered turn one side-by-side before Kenseth prevailed and cleared Keselowski a few laps later. Kenseth never conceded the position to Keselowski, nor was he black-flagged by NASCAR. Why? Because according to NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp, race officials deemed that Keselowski hadn't mashed the gas in the designated restart zone before the start/finish line, allowing the second-place driver -- Kenseth -- the right of way to accelerate on his own.(Yahoo Sports)(3-19-2012)

Matt Kenseth wins the Daytona 500:#17-Matt Kenseth won the 54th running of the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway for his 2nd Daytona 500 win and 22nd career win. Kenseth won in a green-white-checkered finish after a wreck on lap 197, the race ran 202 laps. The race was twice delayed by rain, first from Sunday to Monday at 12:00noon/et, then to 7:00pm/et. Then there was a 2:05:29 red flag when #42-Montoya had a transmission break during a caution as he was catching up to the field, lost control of the car and slammed into the safety truck / jet dryer, destroying his #42 Target Chevy and causing the jet dryer to leak get fuel and catch fire. There was a line of fuel on fire from the jet dryer at the top of the track to the bottom of the banking. After the fire was put out, the track was cleaned up, inspected and the race restarted with 40 laps to go.
#88-Earnhardt Jr. finished 2nd [his sixth 2nd place finish since his last win] followed by #16-Biffle, #11-Hamlin, #31-Burton, #27-Menard, #29-Harvick, #99-Edwards (pole sitter), #20-Logano and #55-Martin. 2011 Champ, #14-Stewart was involved in a late accident and finished 16th. #48-Johnson got tapped by #33-Sadler and caused the first caution on lap 2, taking Johnson out of the race [finishing 42nd] and collecting #10-Danica Patrick [who got repairs and finished 38th]. Three-time Daytona 500 winner #24-Gordon has an engine expire and finished 40th.
There was 10 cautions for 42 laps along with a 2 hour 5 minute red flag for the track cleanup after the jet dryer accident. There were 27 lead changes among 13 drivers. The estimated attendence was 140,000 (originally estimated at 180,000), down from 182,000 in 2011.
See race results, wards, money won and more on the Daytona Race Results page (pdf) and also on the Official Daytona Race Report (pdf)(2-27-2012)

Roush Fenway Scores Historic 300th Victory with Daytona 500 Win: Roush Fenway Racing officially kicked off it's 25th Anniversary season in grand fashion on Monday night, with #17-Matt Kenseth holding off teammate #16-Greg Biffle as the organization claimed its historic 300th NASCAR victory with its second Daytona 500 victory in the first ever night-time running of the famed event at Daytona International Speedway.
"It feels great," said Kenseth. "We even went overtime a little bit since we didn't quite go the whole distance the first time we won it. We had a really fast car all day and overcame a lot of adversity and problems with the car that we figured out. We had a great pit stop at the end that put us into position. It feels great. I wasn't expecting to win when I woke up this morning so it feels good to be sitting here."
Kenseth and Biffle combined to lead 83 of 200 laps in the race, with Kenseth taking the lead for the final time with 37 laps remaining and holding the point until the race's conclusion with a green-white-checkered finish. With the victory, Roush Fenway becomes the first team in NASCAR history to win 300 races.
"This is a special night," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "It feels great. It is very fitting that Matt won the 300th victory that we have had since we started in 1988 and (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig has been with us for most of the time and Matt has been here most of the time as well. It is great to celebrate our 300th win here with the 54th Daytona 500. This is Matt's second 500 win and that makes it special as well."(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-28-2012)

All Roush Fenway Racing teams switch to Valvoline NextGen oil: Less than one year after the Valvoline brand introduced a revolutionary recycled motor oil that stands up to racing's demanding standards and high-quality performance, Roush Fenway has decided to switch all its Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams to Valvoline NextGen motor oil technology for the duration of the 2012 NASCAR season. RFR will kick off the shift at the 54th annual Daytona 500 race on Feb. 26, 2012. The announcement represents the culmination of a rigorous validation process that began last summer with drivers like Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, and is a continued illustration of Roush Fenway Racing's commitment to going green on the track while keeping performance paramount. NextGen motor oil is made of 50 percent recycled motor oil and delivers 100 percent Valvoline quality, offering optimum engine protection in a product that's also better for the environment. "Closing the Loop" - for professional drivers and everyday consumers alike - is a step towards reducing our dependence on foreign crude oil and preserving our existing resources by collecting and returning your used oil for recycling, and then refilling crankcases with NextGen. NextGen's debut in the Sprint Cup Series is a journey that started last summer when NextGen's racing formulation was put through extensive validation testing by Roush Yates Engines, earning approval from some of motorsports' top teams. Roush Fenway Racing, home of Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth, started using NextGen recycled motor oil technology in competition to protect the engines of their stock cars. "RFR is committed to sustainable operations - from our solar energy system to our waste reduction efforts. We recycle 96% of every race car, so the ability to use a high quality recycled motor oil that can help us win on the track and help the environment is a no-brainer," said Roush. For committing to performance and the environment by returning used oil and refilling crankcases with NextGen, Advance Auto Parts will reward those who Close the Loop with a $20 mail-in gift card offer.(Valvoline)(2-26-2012)

Kenseth wins Gatorade Duel 2: #17-Matt Kenseth won the 2nd Gatorade Duel 150 Qualifying Race for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway followed by #78-Smith, #48-Johnson, #33-Sadler, #16-Biffle, #20-Logano, #18-Busch, #24-Gordon, #39-Newman and #5-Kahne. #36-Blaney (12th) and #87-Nemechek (22nd) got the two transfer spots and will race in the Daytona 500. #26-Raines fell back early and will use qualifying speed to make the race. #32-Terry Labonte will use the past champions provisional to make the Daytona 500. #09-KWallace had fuel pressure issues and finiished 21st, failing to make the race. The average speed was 194.175mph. There were 7 lead changes among 5 drivers and 0 cautions for 0 laps.Go-or-Go Homers: making the Daytona 500 were #98-McDowell [transfer spot 6th Duel 1], #7-Gordon [transfer spot 9th Duel 1], #36-Blaney [transfer spot 12th Duel 2], #87-Nemechek [transfer spot 22nd Duel 2], #21-Bayne [qualifying speed], #26-Raines [qualifying speed],#30-Stremme [qualifying speed] and #32-Terry Labonte [past champions provisional].DNQ's not making the Daytona 500 were #09-KWallace, #40-Waltrip, #37-MWallace, #97-Elliott, #23-Richardson Jr. and #49-Yeley.
See race results on the Gatorade Duel 150 Race 2 Results page (pdf) and see the Daytona 500 Starting Lineup page.(2-23-2012)

Zest to sponsor Kenseth: Roush Fenway Racing announced a new primary sponsorship for the 2003 Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth and his #17 Sprint Cup team. Zest brand of bar soap and body wash will serve as the primary sponsor for four races during the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season for Kenseth starting with Las Vegas in March (March 11). The remaining three races of the sponsorship are slated for Daytona (July 7), Kansas (October 21), and Martinsville (October 28). "NASCAR has some of the best fans when it comes to brand loyalty, so we're looking forward to welcoming Zest to our sport, and thrilled to have them as part of our Roush Fenway team," said Kenseth, driver of the #17 Zest Ford.
"Partnering with the No. 17 Ford of Matt Kenseth and the Roush Fenway team is a natural fit for Zest," said Jim Daniels, President and CEO of High Ridge Brands, the owners of Zest bar soap and body wash. "Matt and the Roush Fenway team are perennial winners with a loyal following who respect their ability to deliver high energy performances on the track and a first class, clean image off the track. We look forward to another successful year for Zest, Roush Fenway, and of course, Matt and his #17 Zest Ford." Go to Zest.com for money saving coupons and to see the latest "Zestfully Clean!" TV commercial.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(2-16-2012)

Ford Eco Boost to sponsor Stenhouse in Daytona 500: EcoBoost, the line of Ford production car engines that provides increased power and fuel efficiency while reducing emissions, is coming to NASCAR, but not under the hood. Ford is reaching out to its huge racing audience through a multi-tiered marketing campaign focused on EcoBoost beginning with this month's Daytona 500. EcoBoost, which first appeared on the NASCAR landscape as the paint scheme on the 2013 Fusion race car for its reveal in Charlotte, N.C., January 24, will serve as the primary paint scheme when defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. makes his Daytona 500 debut in the #6 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion at the end of the month. EcoBoost will also be featured for select races on the #17 Fusion of former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth throughout the 2012 Sprint Cup campaign. EcoBoost will also appear on the Mustang race cars of Stenhouse Jr. and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Trevor Bayne for select races on the 2012 Nationwide Series schedule. "EcoBoost is one of the smart technologies from Ford that blends performance and fuel economy into one package. That's something all racers and racing fans can relate to," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. "EcoBoost engines are available now, and they will be widely available on most vehicles from Ford. We want to raise awareness of EcoBoost among NASCAR fans, so they will look for it, and ask about it when they shop for their new Fords." In addition to making appearances on the track, EcoBoost will be featured as the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series EcoBoost 300 event March 17, 2012 at Bristol Motor Speedway.(Ford Racing NASCAR), see image of the scheme on the #6 Team Schemes page.(2-15-2012)

Kenseth's Cup Championship chosen as Top Roush Fenway "Winning" Moment: The NASCAR media named #17-Matt Kenseth's 2003 NASCAR Cup Championship as the top moment in Roush Fenway's "25 Winning Years." The 2003 Championship won the vote, much in the same fashion as Kenseth meticulously dominated the 2003 season, receiving almost 50 percent of the vote. As part of the launch of Roush Fenway's "25 Winning Years" program, media were asked to vote for the team's top moment at its stop last week on the annual NASCAR media tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On display at the event were over 50 trophies from Roush Fenway's 299 wins, including a trophy set as the centerpiece of each of the 25 tables at the venue. "We have had a lot of big moments over the past 24 years," said team co-owner Jack Roush, who founded the team in 1988. "Matt Kenseth winning our first Cup championship in 2003 ranks up there for sure. Roush Fenway is the last team to win the NASCAR Winston Cup championship under the old point system and a year later became the first team to win under the "Chase" system with Kurt Busch hoisting the inaugural Nextel Cup trophy in 2004. Busch's 2004 championship along with Kenseth's 2009 Daytona 500 win, Biffle's 2000 Truck Series Championship (Roush Fenway's first) and Mark Martin's 1989 win at Rockingham (the team's first) all received several votes in the poll.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-8-2012)

2013 cars to be tested at Homestead: UPDATES: All four 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car models are scheduled to be tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway February 1st...in a test that will apparently be closed. That may be the first time crewmen get to see all four models. Why is NASCAR, and its big marketing operation, taking such seemingly a low-keyed approach? Apparently because the sanctioning body has not yet 'aero-matched' the four models in the wind tunnel. Ford is billing its new model as a Fusion (not Mustang, as once planned), and when the car maker officially unveiled its 2013 street version, it was then free to take the wraps off the NASCAR version - which is decidedly different from the current Sprint Cup model, the still controversial and not greatly liked by many car-of-tomorrow. Chevrolet, for example, still hasn't officially named its model for its 2013 NASCAR Cup racer.(MikeMulhern.net)(1-25-2012)UPDATE: #5-Kasey Kahne tweeted that he will be participating in the test. No other drivers have been announced.(2-1-2012)UPDATE 2: #18-Kyle Busch (Toyota), #17-Matt Kenseth (Ford), and Sam Hornish, Jr. (Dodge) are also participating.(PRN Garage Pass)(2-1-2012)

Roush Fenway to Commemorate "25 Winning Years" in 2012: Coming off one of the strongest seasons in its quarter-decade history, Roush Fenway Racing will commemorate 2012 by celebrating its 25th Anniversary of racing at NASCAR's highest levels. Roush Fenway kicked off its "25 Winning Years" program this week on Charlotte Motor Speedway's annual media tour, where they asked media to name what it considers the top moment of the organization's celebrated 24-year racing history.
"We've had a number of critical milestones since we started in 1988," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "I looked around the room at the media tour at all the trophies we had on display and there is a great deal of emotion that comes to mind when I see each piece. Each trophy has a different story and represents a different milestone and sacrifice. From the first win with Mark Martin at Rockingham in 1989 to our 299th win last season with Trevor Bayne in Texas, they all mean something. Along the way we've won multiple championships in all three NASCAR Series, with Greg (Biffle) getting the first two and Matt Kenseth getting our first Cup championship in 2003." Since founding the company in 1988, Jack Roush has seen the organization amass a record 299 victories. Roush Fenway currently boasts 125 Sprint Cup wins and is the winningest team in both NASCAR's Nationwide and Truck Series'. To properly commemorate the season, Roush Fenway will celebrate four specific areas vital to the organization's success in 2012; performance, people, partners and innovation.(Roush Fenway Racing)(1-28-2012)

Roush plans to expand back to a four-car team: Team owner Jack Roush said despite the "economic pressures" that forced his organization to shrink from four to three Cup teams this season, he is looking to expand back to a quartet when possible. "The plan is to go back to that four-car stable ... yes," Roush said. "In the meantime, we've been able to reposition personnel and resources within the organization because of the downsizing that I think will make us very strong." Roush also confirmed that his team will run Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the full Nationwide Series schedule this season and is still working on sponsorship to run Trevor Bayne for a complete campaign.(Motor Racing Network)(1-25-2012)

Kenseth loses bet with Dale Jr.: Matt Kenseth grew a beard during the offseason-and it cost him. At Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 1970s-themed New Year's Eve party, Kenseth was sporting a Fu Manchu and mutton-chop sideburns. Earnhardt bet Kenseth he wouldn't keep the beard through this week's Preseason Thunder test sessions at Daytona. Through a series of subsequent text messages between the drivers, the ante grew to $2,500. "I was actually going to (keep the beard), and it looked really stupid, but I hate losing any money, and he kept upping the money and upping the money until finally I said, 'OK.' I checked first to make sure I didn't have any photos, and then I get a call saying that I had a photo shoot here and an interview there--and anyway I guess I lost. "Although technically this should count," Kenseth added, stroking the stubble on his chin. "It is three days old." That's not the way Earnhardt sees it. "He shaved his beard," Earnhardt said. "You guys can remind him. I told him to go to the bank, but maybe he forgot. "I want my $2,500."(NASCAR.com)(2-13-2012)

Best Buy scheme posted: found on Best Buy Racing's twitter, an image of the #17 Best Buy Ford scheme that is Matt Kenseth scheduled to run in nine 2012 Sprint Cup races, see this image and many other 2012 schemes on the #17 Team Schemes page.(1-7-2012)

2011 News

Roush Yates teams up with Impact:Roush Yates Performance Products has reached a distribution agreement with Impact by MasterCraft Safety to create a 1,500 square foot safety center within Roush Yates Performance Products' Mooresville, N.C. retail center. This partnership will continue Roush Yates' goal of offering "one stop" shopping for drivers and pit crews throughout the racing spectrum. "We're very proud to be associated with a great company like Impact," said Roush Yates CEO Doug Yates. "This new partnership certainly broadens our reach and product offerings as a whole, which should further underscore the fact that Roush Yates Performance Products is truly a complete solution center for any racer of any caliber or series." The safety center will be staffed with personnel well versed in the intricacies of critical safety matters such as helmet fitment, custom race suit measurements, and choosing the proper restraints for specific genres of racing. "We couldn't be happier," said MasterCraft Safety president Robbie Pierce. "While our product lines are different, both Roush Yates and Impact offer premium racing products with absolutely no compromises."(Roush Yates Performance Products/Impact by MasterCraft)(12-27-2011)

Best Buy to sponsor Kenseth?: UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing and #17-Matt Kenseth appear to be well on their way to securing the Best Buy sponsorship for 2012, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Roush organization has pledged to run Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, without sponsorship but has been working hard to find funding for the driver coming off a three-win season where he placed fourth in the Cup standings. Kenseth's primary sponsor Crown Royal opted not to sponsor a race team in 2012. Best Buy's sponsorship of #43-AJ Allmendinger at Richard Petty Motorsports was for 24 races in 2011. RPM has not announced any sponsorship for the #43 car for next season. An RPM spokesman said the team would have no comment on its sponsorship search.(SceneDaily)(12-15-2011)UPDATE: Best Buy Co., Inc. announced a new sponsorship deal for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Season. Best Buy will serve as primary sponsor of Carl Edwards' #99 Ford for two races and the Matt Kenseth #17 Ford for nine races. In addition, Best Buy will serve as associate sponsor for each. "Best Buy is thrilled to announce this new NASCAR sponsorship deal with Roush Fenway Racing," said Drew Panayiotou, senior vice president of marketing for Best Buy. "Roush Fenway Racing is a great fit for Best Buy Racing. NASCAR continues to be a relevant way for us to connect with our customers. Our goal is to reach our target audiences in a meaningful way, while maximizing the value of our marketing and sponsorship investments." Best Buy has been a NASCAR sponsor for the past 7 years.(Best Buy)(12-20-2011)AND: Richard Petty Motorsports statement: "We have had a successful and rewarding relationship with Best Buy for the past few years and appreciate all they have done for us," stated Richard Petty, co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports. "Although it is very disappointing that Best Buy is changing directions at this late date, we wish all of our friends there the best in their future endeavors. Our plan has always been to run a two-car team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012 and we are continuing down that path," said Petty. "We have several partners that remain committed to the #43 team. We will move forward and explore all of our options in regard to the #43 program in the coming weeks."(RPM)(12-20-2011)

Kenseth expects team to find sponsorship: Even in a tough economy, the fact that Matt Kenseth is riding into the off-season with a blank quarter-panel is a mystery. With Crown Royal's last sponsorship dollars having been poured from the glass, Kenseth's #17 Roush Fenway Racing team is looking toward 2012 from a rather lonely position. The team does not have a major sponsor for next season, and time is rapidly running out. Kenseth said he remains hopeful that his Fords will carry major sponsorship when the team reports to Daytona International Speedway in February. "I think they'll find something," he said. "I think we have too competitive of a team to be unsponsored. From my standpoint, it's frustrating because I don't know how the whole process works. But, from a driver standpoint, if you perform well and don't act like an idiot too much, things are good.(SPEED)(12-7-2011)

Significant layoffs at Roush: Multiple sources have confirmed significant layoffs this week at Roush Fenway Racing. According to sources, more than 100 workers were released by the team Monday and [Tuesday]. One source put the number at 125. Prior to today, the team employed about 440 people. Roush Fenway is expected to reduce its NASCAR Sprint Cup car count from four cars to three next season, with the #6 driven by David Ragan likely to be shuttered. At last report, the team is also without sponsors for the #17 of Matt Kenseth. The team may also reduce the size of its NASCAR Nationwide Series operations from three cars to one or two.(SPEED)(1-22-2011)

NASCAR didn't see Kenseth-Vickers wreck as retaliation: NASCAR officials didn't see Sunday's incident at Phoenix International Raceway between Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth as retaliation. Kenseth disagreed. "Had we felt it was more than a racing incident we would have reacted,'' Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said afterwards. Kenseth called NASCAR out for not responding to Vickers wrecking him the way the governing body responded to Kyle Busch deliberately running Ron Hornaday Jr. into the wall during the Truck Series race last week at Texas Motor Speedway. "Obviously, it is retaliation for retaliation, I guess,'' said Kenseth, whose championship hopes basically ended three weeks ago when he and Vickers got into several on track exchanges at Martinsville Speedway. "I was out of brakes and I was up on everybody and I saw him coming and I lifted at least 10 car lengths before where I normally would lift, and he drove in there at 165 miles per hour and cleaned us out.'' Kenseth reminded NASCAR that Vickers vowed payback after Martinsville.
"If NASCAR is going to start parking people for being mad 25 seconds after you wreck and wrecking somebody, then you would park somebody for that,'' he said. "It was so premeditated. It just surprises me that [NASCAR] didn't do anything. I am disappointed, but I expected it.'' Vickers told reporters that he didn't intentionally run over Kenseth, and that he was surprised when Kenseth lifted. "If he wants to doubt us, that's fine," Vickers said. "He wrecked me at Martinsville, he got wrecked here, but it actually wasn't (payback). I'm not saying I wasn't going to pay him back, but I'm just saying that wasn't it."(ESPN)(11-14-2011)

Kenseth to visit AFB: #17-Matt Kenseth will head to Luke Air Force Base on Thursday, November 10 to host a special care package-stuffing event leading up to Veteran's Day. The event will officially launch The Crown Royal Heroes Project-an on-going commitment from the whisky brand to recognize, honor and give back to America's finest-and will be the first in a series of celebrations to recognize local everyday heroes, as well as give back to their communities (RFR)(11-9-2011)

Roush Fenway expects to have 3 teams in 2012: Roush Fenway Racing expects to shrink from four full-time Sprint Cup cars to three in 2012. "The most likely scenario is three,'' RFR president Steve Newmark said before Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. "We're still plugging away at the fourth, but we all recognize the realities that when you're this late in the season it makes it more difficult to secure that. Only the #99 car of Carl Edwards and #16 of Greg Biffle is fully sponsored for next season. The #17 of 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth has no sponsorship for 2012, and Newmark said "nothing is eminent'' but added RFR is prepared to run that car unsponsored if necessary. Newmark said the #6 car driven by David Ragan could run limited races but was non-committal on whether Ragan, Nationwide Series points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. or Trevor Bayne -- or a combination of two or three -- would get those races. He said the plan is for Bayne, the defending Daytona 500 champion, to run a limited Cup schedule in the #21 for the Wood Brothers. Newmark said RFR hopes to field two Nationwide Series cars, with at least one of them fully sponsored. No decision has been made on who would fill those seats, although Stenhouse has been promised a ride for RFR next season.(ESPN)(10-31-2011)

Tattoos For A Cause: Knowing that tattoos are one of the most iconic symbols of badass NASCAR fans, #17-Matt Kenseth and his Talladega sponsor Jeremiah Weed flavored malt beverages, will provide free Jeremiah Weed and Matt Kenseth-inspired tattoos to adult race fans on the Saturday of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. A series of tattoos will be available for fans to choose from including Matt's signature, a number 17, Jeremiah Weed logos and a Jeremiah Weed Lightning Lemonade flavored malt beverage can. For every tattoo inked, Jeremiah Weed will make a $100 donation to The Air Force Village, a charity committed to providing a safe, secure and dignified place for indigent surviving spouses of retired Air Force personnel.(RFR)(10-21-2011)

#17 crew voted 3rd Qtr Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew: The pit crew of the #17 Crown Royal Ford of Matt Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing has earned third-quarter honors in the 2011 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition, taking home the $5,000 quarterly prize - a reward certainly worth a toast or two. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion's Week in Las Vegas - and the $100,000 grand prize.
This year celebrates the 10th annual Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Championship - the only authentic competition voted on by crew chiefs - as well as the safety innovator's 20th year in the sport. Mechanix Wear, the #1 glove in racing, is the Official Glove of NASCAR used by nearly all pit crew members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
"These guys were essential to us making the Chase for the Championship," said Kenseth. "They've kept us in the hunt every week so far, and we're looking forward to more fast, solid pit stops in the next five weeks. The #17 Crown Royal team has done a great job week in and week out on pit road and it's great to see them get credit for their hard work."
So far, Kenseth and the #17 team have two wins, nine top-fives and 17 top-10s. As Kenseth continues to perform well on the track, Jimmy Fennig, crew chief on the #17 Ford, continues to maintain that same level of performance by keeping the pit crew at the top of its game. "When you get into the Chase, the pressure on the pit crew gets intense," said Fennig. "Every stop can contribute to winning or losing the championship. These guys have worked so hard all year, and continue to perform at an incredible level throughout the Chase."
Members of the #17 pit crew include:
Jack man -- Cameron Cobb; Front tire changer -- Justin Nottestad; Front tire carrier -- Joe Crossen; Gas man -- Shawn Ward; Rear tire carrier -- Ryan McCray; Rear tire changer -- Jon Moore. "A quick grip and a strong hand are crucial to any pit stop in any of the NASCAR racing series," said Ted Abdon, Director of Racing for Mechanix Wear. "The right kind of glove not only aids with this but works as a tool to keep the pit crews safer and more efficient. We continue to strive to produce the best product available to ensure they can continue to be the best."(Mechanix Wear)(10-20-2011)

Roush Yates Engines and Freescale Semiconductor partner on technology: Roush Yates Engines and Freescale Semiconductor announced a new partnership grounded in a shared vision for the expanding role of technology in motorsports. This partnership brings together two industry leaders in automotive and motorsports. Freescale, as one of the world's largest providers of automotive electronics, provides the processing power behind NASCAR's 2012 Sprint Cup Series switch to fuel injection and is the Official Automotive Semiconductor of NASCAR. Roush Yates is recognized as one of the premier engine manufacturers, and both of these companies have a long history in automotive and motorsports innovation. Together, Roush Yates and Freescale look to discover new ways in which technology can be used to improve the team, driver and fan experience within NASCAR and other racing series.(Roush Yates)(10-18-2011)

Kenseth wins at Charlotte: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 21st career win and 3rd of the season. #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #99-Edwards, #4-Kahne, #9-Ambrose, #29-Harvick, #43-Allmendinger, #14-Stewart (the pole sitter), #11-Hamlin, and #39-Newman. While running in the top 10, #48-Johnson got loose and wrecked with 17 laps to go. He finished 34th.
#99-Edwards now leads the Chase by 5 points over #29-Harvick.
There were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers and 8 cautions for 34 yellow flag laps.
The attendance is listed as 105,000, up from 103,000 last year.Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
ESPN2, Sunday, October 16 at 2:00am/et; SPEED, Wednesday, October 19 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Charlotte Race Results/Awards page.
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-15-2011)

Fluidmaster to sponsor Kenseth at Charlotte: Roush Fenway Racing announced a new primary sponsorship for Matt Kenseth, and his #17 team on behalf of Fluidmaster for this weekend's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The sponsorship is the first of its kind for Fluidmaster and is a true testament to the appeal of sponsorship in NASCAR serving as a way to connect companies with customers. After researching the opportunity to participate in this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race, Fluidmaster recognized the strong appeal of motorsports racing among its key professional plumbing customers as well as do-it-yourselfers worldwide.(Roush Fenway), see an image of the car on my #17 team paint schemes page.(10-11-2011)

Could Roush drop to three teams in 2012? UPDATE: this week Jack Roush addressed the topic of Rosuh Fenway Racing dropping from a four-car to a three-car team in a SiriusXM Satellite Radio interview. "We're looking for a sponsor for #6-David (Ragan), but right now I can't tell you who that's gonna be," Roush told host Claire B. Lang. "I'll say that I'm not real close on it. So David has not been encouraged to not talk to other teams going forward for things that they might have or an interest because right now I don't see how I'm gonna run the fourth car unless things turn dramatically." #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards and #17-Matt Kenseth are RFR's other Cup drivers. Roush said he expected to remain active in the Nationwide Series but more likely with two cars than three. He has self-funded in large part the programs of Trevor Bayne (who won the Daytona 500) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (who is on pace to win the Nationwide title), and even Edwards hasn't had full backing.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(10-7-2011)UPDATE: Roush concedes that, while he is still looking for a sponsor to keep Ragan in his current ride, there are still no great prospects. And Roush says he's told Ragan to start looking for a new deal, because without major sponsorship Roush says he won't be able to run four full-time Cup teams in 2012. Speculation is that Ragan could be penciled in for a ride with Kevin Buckler [#71 TRG Ford], the sports car racer turned NASCAR team owner, and a Ford man. But Ragan himself says he's focused more on finishing this season as strongly as he can. "Right now I am not focused on 2012 just yet," Ragan says. "I think it's important for us to finish this season strong. And the stronger we can finish 2011, that will only help our chances of finding a sponsor and a package to go racing next year. Everyone at Roush Fenway is working hard at selling sponsors for us and for Matt. They have to sell some sponsorships for us to go racing next year. Jack has always done a good job of selling our race cars. Even though it's come to the last minute, we have confidence we'll be out on the track racing (next season). And hopefully we can find a partner we can announce, sooner rather than later.(MikeMulhern.net)(10-8-2011)

Katie Kenseth in wreck practicing for Better Half Dash: The wife of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth left Charlotte Motor Speedway by stretcher early Monday evening after a crash at the race track during a practice session for a charity race next month. Katie Kenseth crashed in to what typically is the pit stop wall in a driving school bandolero vehicle after taking a sharp turn. Her husband rushed to check on her, and emergency track officials loaded her onto a stretcher. Other NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Casey Mears, Michael McDowell and David Ragan were also in attendance to watch their wives and girlfriends practice for the inaugural Better Half Dash on October 15. The charity race will benefit Speedway Children's Charities and Motor Racing Outreach and will feature a 25-lap race on the front stretch quarter-mile oval before the Bank of American 500.(WCNC)AND: Monday night, Kenseth tweeted, "That didn't turn out so well. Katie and I are home, she has a broken scapula and some bumps and bruises. Thanks for all the well wishes."(9-27-2011)

Kenseth Says Still No Word on 2012 Sponsorship: The Chase is not all on Matt Kenseth's mind. A couple of months ago, primary sponsor Crown Royal announced its departure from the team after the season and, so far, there is still no word on which company or companies will adorn the hood and quarter panels of the #17 Ford. "I am sure they are working on it as hard as possible back in the sales and marketing department at Roush Fenway Racing," Kenseth told News/Talk WSB. "That's really the only thing I know. I don't know of anything that right now they have and I don't know of anything they are close to getting signed up. I wish I did. I am going to worry about racing these next 10 weeks, doing the best job I can to win a championship for Crown Royal and I'll let them worry about it."(WSB Radio)(9-15-2011)

Ollie's to sponsor Kenseth at Richmond: Roush Fenway Racing announced a new primary sponsor for the driver of the #17 Ford, Matt Kenseth. Ollie's Bargain Outlet will serve as the sponsor of Kenseth's Ford Fusion for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 10. The sponsorship marks the second time that Ollie's will serve as a sponsor in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, and the first time that the company has partnered with Roush Fenway Racing. "I'm happy to welcome Ollie's Bargain Outlet to the Roush Fenway team and I look forward to a great race weekend with them at Richmond," said Kenseth, driver of the #17 Ollie's Bargain Outlet Ford. "We always enjoy welcoming new sponsors to our organization and I'm happy to have them aboard our No. 17 Ford."
"Since the moment we were presented with the opportunity to sponsor Matt Kenseth for the race at Richmond, we have been looking forward to watching him race in our signature Ollie's colors in the Sprint Cup Series," said Mark Butler, President and CEO of Ollie's Bargain Outlet. "Partnering with Roush Fenway Racing to sponsor the #17 Ford gives us a great chance to showcase our company to NASCAR's fans at the highest level in the Cup series. I am personally a big NASCAR fan and am proud to partner with Roush Fenway Racing to support Kenseth and the great sport of racing." Founded in 1982, Ollie's Bargain Outlet is one of America's largest retailers of closeouts, salvage and surplus merchandise (RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(9-7-2011)

Jack Roush ready to resume flying: It was a year ago when Sprint Cup car owner Jack Roush arrived at MIS with facial injuries, making his return to the series after he had crash-landed his plane in Oshkosh, Wis., the previous month. Roush, 69, enjoys flying his planes as much as he loves motor sports, and that is why he's so excited to return to piloting this week at Willow Run Airport for the first time since the crash. "I'm totally recovered," said Roush, of Livonia, wearing his trademark Panama-style hat while signing autographs. "I just got my medical back from the FAA, indicating that I'm medically sound and I'm without restriction. I have one more validation flight for the (injured) eye and I have that Tuesday. Once I get that done I can fly anything I did before. I plan to fly Tuesday." Roush suffered a ruptured left eyeball, broken jaw, damaged left cheekbone and had a compression fracture in his back from the crash. He said at the time "that everything will come back except the sight in my left eye."(Detroit News)(8-22-2011)

Kroger Sponsors Kenseth at Michigan:Kroger announced their sponsorship of Roush Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth and his #17 Ford in the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. "We are excited to be a part of Michigan racing and to support the Michigan auto industry, in general," said Dale Hollandsworth, Customer Communications Manager, The Kroger Co. of Michigan. "Just as automobiles are a tradition in Michigan, Kroger supporting its customers and local organizations is a Michigan tradition, too." Whether it is Fuel Rewards or Kroger Community Rewards, Kroger will support its communities and customers. Kroger helps Michigan drivers save money through its fuel reward program by providing discounts on fill-ups. Kroger offers customers one point for every dollar they spend when they present their Kroger Plus card at any store within Michigan. Customers have the convenience of redeeming these points for fuel discounts up to $1 per gallon at any Kroger fuel center and up to 10 cents per gallon at participating Shell stations. Kroger has long sponsored various organizations in the communities it serves with programs such as Kroger Community Rewards, which contributes $2 million to participating organizations throughout Michigan each year. Kroger Community Rewards is open to groups that are tax exempt under 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with organizations earning cash rewards every time their members purchase food and other products at Kroger.(Roush Fenway Racing)(8-16-2011)

Kenseth suprised Crown Royal is leaving: from a Ford Racing press conference transcript, #17-Matt Kenseth is asked about sponsor Crown Royal leaving his team after 2011:
Q) DID THE DECISION BY CROWN ROYAL CATCH YOU BY SURPRISE AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR FUTURE?Kenseth: "I guess it caught me a little bit by surprise because we've been having a great season on-track and I figured they would be cutting back like most people are somewhat, but it caught me a little bit by surprise that they're totally leaving everything, except for that Richmond race. What that does to us, I'm not really sure. I drive the car and I kind of leave that to the marketing people and the sales team to figure that out. I feel like it's a great opportunity for a company to come into the sport. I think right now the on-track performance of the organization has been really good. It seems like everything is on the upswing in the sport as far as the on-track product and the TV ratings, and attendance is coming up a little bit, so I feel like it's a great opportunity. I've been there for a long time at Roush Fenway Racing. I think I've been there about 14 years doing miscellaneous things here or there. We had our sponsor before Crown Royal, we had DeWalt for over a decade, so I think it's a good, stable, competitive program and hopefully they can get something wrapped up there for the future."
Q) DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS SPONSOR SITUATION IMPACT THE TEAM? DO YOUR GUYS WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?Kenseth: "No, I don't think so, especially not now. If we were in the middle of a season where the car hasn't had a sponsor for half-a-season or something like that and you saw big cutbacks throughout the organization and stuff like that, then maybe you would be worried, but, right now, I think it's really early for that. We've been doing everything we can to make the program really competitive and I feel like all the Roush cars have been real competitive and I think we have a lot there to sell, so I don't think that's any concern to the team guys or takes any focus off anything that we're doing. Our goal every week is to go out and try to win races and try to race for a championship and that certainly hasn't changed. I've been fortunate. I haven't been through a lot of that through my Cup career. Like I said, DeWalt was there for over a decade and they've had different associates here or there, but that was it, and then Crown Royal had been there for a couple of years. They've been a great partner, not just to us but to NASCAR as well, doing the [International Race Of Champions] Series and then moving into the Cup Series when they started allowing spirits on the side of the cars. They've been a great partner for us and NASCAR and we sure appreciate all of that. They were on our car in '03 and '04 with the Smirnoff Ice brand before moving up to do a Cup car through Kurt and Jamie and then myself, so we sure appreciate all of that."(Ford Racing)(7-3-2011)

Crown Royal to end sponsorship of the #17 team UPDATE: Official Statement from Crown Royal: In evaluation of our NASCAR programming and after much consideration, we have made the decision to make a strategic shift to focus our resources against our annual Crown Royal "Your Name Here" program which awards race naming rights to an adult fan. The Your Name Here program has provided NASCAR fans with an experience that is unrivaled in sports and in recent years has shed light on some of the remarkable military servicemen and servicewomen who proudly serve our country. We look forward to elevating this program as well as continuing our presence in the sport through an experience that our fans have grown to love. The specific details regarding how we will honor these heroes at next year's entitlement will be announced at a later date.
In shifting our strategy, we will end our sponsorships with Roush Fenway Racing and NASCAR upon the conclusion of the 2011 season. We have developed strong relationships with the people at both organizations - they have not only been fantastic business partners, but have also become our friends. We thank them for working with us throughout the years to showcase the importance of our social responsibility initiatives. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2011 season and like the many fans we've gained along the way, we'll never stop rooting for the #17 car on its way to Victory Lane.(Crown Royal PR)(6-28-2011)UPDATE: Statement from Roush Fenway Racing on Crown Royal: Roush Fenway Racing has been informed that Crown Royal will not return as the primary sponsor of Matt Kenseth and the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup team for the 2012 season.
"We are obviously disappointed with the news, but first we would like to thank Diageo and Crown Royal for a terrific partnership that has spanned almost a decade," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "They have been a first-class partner all the way around. We look forward to finishing out the season with them on the No. 17 as Matt and the Crown Royal team continue to contend for another championship. It's unfortunate that they will not be able to continue to be a part of our organization. Fortunately, our race programs are operating at a higher level than ever. The #17 is an attractive, championship-winning program with a storied history and Matt Kenseth an elite driver. We have already opened the door for discussions and are currently in the process of speaking with companies interested in taking over the program for next season and beyond."(Roush Fenway Racing)(6-29-2011)

Affliction Clothing expands sponsorship with Kenseth:Affliction Clothing, who debuted as a primary sponsor for 2003 Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth and his #17 Roush Fenway Racing team earlier this season, added two more races of primary sponsorship to the 2011 Sprint Cup Series schedule. Affliction will serve as the sponsor for Kenseth and the #17 team for the Sprint Cup Series race weekends in July at Daytona International Speedway as well as the July 17th race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "It's always great to bring a new sponsor to our team, but it's even more thrilling to have them add more races to their sponsorship," said Kenseth, driver of the #17 Affliction Clothing Live Fast Ford. "We're proud to have Affliction Clothing as part of our Roush Fenway organization and are looking forward to another pair of great races representing their brand."
"We enjoyed Matt and the Roush Fenway team's performance at both of our sponsored races and are looking forward to watching Matt race the No.17 Affliction Ford at Daytona" said Tom Atencio, Vice President of Entertainment and Sports Marketing for Affliction Clothing. The Affliction family of brands exists at the intersection between the spirited artistry and hard edged attitude of the fast-living modern generation.(Roush Fenway Racing)(6-28-2011)

Roush supportive of Childress: Jack Roush drew a few laughs after his team's NASCAR Nationwide victory, when he was asked his view of the fine handed down to fellow owner Richard Childress. Childress was fined $150,000 earlier this month for an altercation with Kyle Busch at Kansas Speedway. Childress was upset that Busch bumped into Joey Coulter on the cool-down lap after a race. "It was pretty high," Roush said about the fine. "I guess that pretty much puts the nail in the coffin of, 'Have at it, guys.' Maybe that was a boy and a man. I am not sure. Maybe that is different than the boys having at it. Kyle has been pretty rough on my cars over a period of time and for Richard to stand up for himself was OK," Roush said.(Associated Press)(6-19-2011)

IEG will measure ROO for new Roush sponsors: Roush Fenway Racing [#'s 6,16,17,99] has hired IEG's sponsorship measurement division to provide independent, third-party return-on-objective analysis to new sponsors. The race team and sponsorship analysis company are labeling the new service RoushFenwayOnTrack. IEG has never partnered with a team or property to do similar research in the past. Roush executives hope the service enables sponsors to better evaluate the value of their sponsorships with the race team.
Roush will pay for the service from IEG and include it in its sponsorship packages alongside assets such as driver appearances, production days and show car programs. Sponsors will be able to hold independent meetings with IEG to define their objectives and develop measurement tools to track their sponsorship's performance. IEG will share the results with the partner. Four of Roush's major NASCAR Sprint Cup partners were up for renewal this season. 3M [#16 ]is the only one to renew to date, and IEG measurement services weren't included in the deal. The team remains in negotiations with Diageo's Crown Royal [#17], Aflac [#99] and UPS [#6].(Sports Business Journal)(6-13-2011)

Affliction Clothing sponsoring Kenseth in 2 races: Roush Fenway Racing announces a new primary sponsorship for 2003 Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth and his #17 team from Affliction Clothing. Affliction Clothing will serve as the primary sponsor for Kenseth's team for the Sprint Cup Series race weekends in June at Kansas Speedway for the STP 400 as well as the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. The Affliction family of brands exists at the intersection between the spirited artistry and hard edged attitude of the fast-living modern generation. Affliction defines and meets the needs of their style savvy customer with an ever-expanding collection of contemporary fashion focused on an innovative combination of style, fit, fabrics, finishes and quality. A true culture phenomenon and a commercial powerhouse; Affliction brands are rooted in and beloved by the hard rock and sports communities.(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-31-2011)

Different colors for Kenseth at Charlotte...plus: This weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Matt Kenseth will pilot the #17 Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Ford Fusion in the Coca Cola 600. Also, on Friday, May 27th in Uptown Charlotte, Strongman Rendy DeLaCruz, star of the commercials for the new Jeremiah Weed Premium Malt Beverages, will attempt to pull Kenseth in his #17 Jeremiah Weed Ford 100 feet in 60 seconds or less. For every foot DeLaCruz successfully pulls the 3,500 lb stock car at Speed Street, Jeremiah Weed will distribute $10 pre-paid taxi vouchers to encourage responsible decision making among legal drinking age consumers. The Strongman will also act as honorary pit crew member of the #17 Jeremiah Weed team throughout race weekend.(RFR)(5-26-2011), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(5-26-2011)

Kenseth wins at Dover: #17-Matt Kesneth won the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2011, 2nd win at Dover and 20th win of his 411 race career.
#5-Martin finished second followed by #9-Ambrose, #18-Busch [who started at the rear], #83-Vickers, #33-Bowyer, #99-Edwards, #56-Truex Jr., #48-Johnson and #29-Harvick. #43-Allmendinger, who started 2nd, lost an engine and finished 37th.
There were 23 lead changes among 11 drivers; 6 cautions for 28 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 82,000 down from 88,000 last year [133,000 seats].Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, May 18 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Dover Race Results/Awards page.
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(5-15-2011)

Roush Fenway to Host Annual Spring Fan Day Event: Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. & Jack Roush are scheduled to sign autographs as part of Roush Fenway Racing's 2011 Fan Day event on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at its corporate headquarters in Concord, North Carolina. Fans are invited to participate in an array of activities that kick off with autograph sessions by all seven Roush Fenway drivers and legendary team owner Jack Roush. In addition, Sirius NASCAR Radio will broadcast live on site and Roush Fenway will host its second annual fan tweet up at the event, featuring RickyvsTrevor.com. Autograph sessions are as follows:
11:30am -- Trevor Bayne, Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Jack Roush
12:30pm -- Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and David Ragan
Tickets for both autograph sessions are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis beginning at 8:00am/et on the day of the event. In addition to the above activities, fans will be able to tour the Roush Fenway museum, shop in the store and peruse a variety of displays from Aflac, Scotts, Kellogg's, Avon and Blackwell Angus. There will also be live music performed by Luke Kauffman, as well as food and drink vendors so fans are encouraged to make a day of the festivities. Roush Fenway Racing address is; 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC. For more information, visit the Roush Fenway Racing website.(5-14-2011)

Wiley X sponsoring Kenseth: Wiley X Eyewear's successful NASCAR sponsorship program has switched into high gear with announcement of the #17 Wiley X Sunglasses Ford. This car will be driven by Matt Kenseth and will make its nationwide debut Saturday, May 7th in the Showtime Southern 500 at South Carolina's historic Darlington Raceway. Kenseth will also drive this special paint scheme on Sunday, May 17th as he tries to win the Fed Ex 400 benefitting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Large Wiley X Eyewear logos will be featured prominently on the Ford Fusion race car, perfectly complimenting the vehicle's black/red/white color scheme. The words "Wiley X Sunglass Machine" are emblazoned in large letters across the rear of the car - a view Kenseth hopes to show competitors as he fights for the checkered flag at these two events.(Roush Fenway)(5-4-2011)

Kenseth wins at Texas: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway for his 1st win of 2011, his first win since Auto Club in February 2009, and the 19th of his career.
#33-Bowyer finished second followed by #99-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #27-Menard, #9-Ambrose, #6-Ragan [pole sitter], #48-Johnson, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and #22-Busch.
There were 31 lead changes among 13 drivers; 5 cautions for 24 yellow flag laps.
The attendance is listed as 168,400, up from last years 92,200 during the spring when the race was held Sunday afternoon.Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, April 13 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Texas Race Results/Awards page.
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.
(4-9-2011)

Marine to Serve as Honorary Pit Crew Member for Kenseth: As race fans gear up for the first and only NASCAR race in Fontana this season at Auto Club Speedway, the drivers aren't the only famous faces to keep an eye on. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Matthew Hansen will get his first shot at NASCAR fame as he serves as an honorary pit crew member of the # 17 Crown Royal Ford driven by Matt Kenseth. Crown Royal and Kenseth will roll out the purple carpet for the local California Marine who was recently awarded naming rights to the Sprint Cup Series race in Richmond, Va. The April 30th race will be named Crown Royal Presents the Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 in honor of Matthew and his fallen twin brother Daniel - also a Marine. Daniel was killed while serving in Afghanistan on Feb. 14, 2009. The brothers enlisted within weeks of each other and despite losing his brother in service; Matthew continues to proudly serve our country. Since Matthew was unable to attend the unveiling ceremony in Daytona, he will experience royal treatment for his first-ever NASCAR experience at his hometown race.(Roush Fenway)(3-25-2011)

Part owner of Roush Fenway changes name: The parent company that owned the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC and half of Roush Fenway Racing has changed its name to Fenway Sports Group. The umbrella group owned primarily by John W. Henry and Tom Werner was formerly known as New England Sports Ventures. Company officials said it was assuming a new corporate name to better reflect its reach into NASCAR and English Premier League soccer. Fenway Sports Group had been the name of NESV's marketing arm. It will now go by Fenway Sports Management.(Associated Press)(3-23-2011)

Valvoline renews oil partnership with Roush Fenway: Roush Fenway Racing and Valvoline, two organizations with long histories of excellence in automotive performance, announced an extension of their NASCAR partnership. Valvoline, the leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive products, will continue to be the exclusive motor oil provider for Roush Fenway Racing and all of its NASCAR entries. Valvoline and Roush Fenway Racing are used to finding victory lane in NASCAR competition. In 14 seasons as the team's official motor oil, Valvoline has played an integral role in 46 Roush Fenway Sprint Cup Series victories. In 2011, the relationship continues into its 15th season.(Roush Fenway)(3-3-2011)

Raybestos signs on with Roush Fenway Racing: Roush Fenway Racing announced a multi-year marketing partnership with Raybestos that will see its four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams run Raybestos brake packages, beginning with short track and road course events in 2011. While Raybestos has provided Roush Fenway with brakes for many of its 291 NASCAR wins and five NASCAR championships, 2011 marks the beginning of a larger technical and marketing partnership. "We had a very successful test with the Raybestos brakes last year, and the feedback from all of our drivers was very positive," said team owner Jack Roush. "This is the first time as an organization that we've designated a single supplier to meet all of our needs - and I think that speaks volumes about the quality products that Raybestos is producing." Roush Fenway will run Raybestos Sprint Cup short track and road course brake packages, including Raybestos legendary high-friction racing brake pads. The ultra-lightweight aluminum alloy Raybestos six-piston calipers are the stiffest and lightest calipers available in NASCAR.(RFR)(3-2-2011)

Forbes names most valuable NASCAR teams & highest paid drivers: The weak economy has pummeled NASCAR over the past three years, with sponsorships, merchandise sales, race winnings and subsidies from automakers falling. Fans have tuned out, sending TV ratings down 24% since 2006 and leaving more than 40,000 empty seats at some races last year. One of its longest-tenured teams, Richard Petty Motorsports, was scrambling for cash on a week-to-week basis so it could race on weekends last fall. Is NASCAR headed for a full-blown meltdown? Hardly. Yes, the value of the top 10 teams slid 5% in 2010, on average, to $136 million by [Forbes] count, as prize money dropped and sponsors dialed back their commitment, but a rebound in 2011 for the sport is a strong possibility. NASCAR's strongest and most valuable team remains Hendrick Motorsports. With a valuation of $350 million on revenues of $177 million in 2010, Hendrick is worth 56% more than the next-highest-grossing team, Roush Fenway Racing, which [Forbes] value at $224 million on revenues of $140 million last year. Hendrick earned a NASCAR-high $18 million in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in 2010. Richard Childress Racing was third on the list, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing. Rounding out the top 10: Stewart-Haas, Michael Waltrip Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, and Red Bull Racing.AND: Despite his lack of success in recent years on the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains NASCAR's highest-paid driver, earning $29 million in 2010 thanks to merchandise sales that are the best in the sport and reportedly account for one-third of all NASCAR licensed merchandise sales. Other income streams include an annual salary from Hendrick and a 50% share of his $4.9 million in winnings and bonuses in 2010 from Sprint Cup races. Earnhardt also has a bevy of personal endorsements, including Chevrolet, Nationwide and Wrangler. Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon follows Earnhardt in the NASCAR money standings with earnings of $25 million last year. It is a clean sweep for Hendrick at the top with five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, the third-highest-paid driver at $24 million. The rest of the top 10: Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, and Matt Kenseth.(Forbes)(2-24-2011)

Congrats to Matt & Katie Kenseth: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 Crown Royal Ford with Roush Fenway Racing, and his wife Katie welcomed a new bundle of joy into their family early Tuesday morning with the birth of the couple's second daughter. Grace Katherine Kenseth was born February 22 at 3:49 a.m. EST weighing in at seven pounds and eight ounces. Both mother and daughter are doing well as the family welcomes Grace into the family to join their other daughter Kaylin and son Ross.
Kenseth will be able to spend a few days with his brand new baby girl before traveling out west for this weekend's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
(Roush Fenway)(2-22-2011)

'Herman' to stand-by for Kenseth UPDATE: Kenny Wallace told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he will be standing by to take over Matt Kenseth's #17 Crown Royal Ford, if Kenseth is called away during SpeedWeek 2011.
"I got a call last night from (Roush Fenway Racing GM) Robbie Reiser, and he said Katie Kenseth is due to give birth to their second baby in a couple of weeks," said Wallace. "They want me to be on standby in case she goes into labor before the Bud Shootout or Gatorade Duel. He said Matt will run the Daytona 500 no matter what, but they want me there in case they need me earlier in the week. Even though it's probably because I'm the same size as Matt and will fit into the seat easily, it took me about a quarter of a second to agree."(Sirius Speedway)(2-2-2011)UPDATE: With the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season set to return to action at Daytona International Speedway next week, Roush Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth and his wife Katie are expecting great things for the month of February with the addition of a new baby. The Kenseths expect to welcome the latest addition to the family by the end of the month, and Roush Fenway Racing will look to two drivers to be on-call in case Kenseth needs to travel home to be with his family. Kenny Wallace and Brian Ickler will be ready to jump in to the #17 Crown Royal Ford for any practice and qualifying needs the team may have. Wallace will be ready to assume driving duties throughout Daytona International Speedway's Speedweeks events, while Ickler will be at the track for both Phoenix and Las Vegas race weekends. Kenseth plans to be behind the wheel of the #17 Ford on race days, but depending on when the newest member of the family arrives, he may need assistance from Wallace and/or Ickler to practice the car for the team.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-5-2011)

Roush adjusting to life with one eye: Jack Roush took a good ribbing at the end of last season about being "one-eyed Jack." Well, now he in a way is back to two eyes. Roush lost the vision in his left eye in a July 27 plane crash. He had a prosthetic eye put in around Thanksgiving. "My prosthetic eye is doing very well," Roush said Thursday during the Sprint Media Tour. "I haven't had any infection from it, I haven't had any problem of any kind with it. Nine days ago, I had some cosmetic surgery so I've still got a little swelling for that," Roush said. "I've had no complication at all from any of the surgeries I had. I sleep well. My corrected vision with my reading glasses is 20/15 and I've adjusted to having one eye as well as [I could]."(Scene Daily)(1-28-2011)

Congrats: Jack Roush announced Thursday during the Charlotte Media Tour that the wives of #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle, and #17-Matt Kenseth are all expecting babies this year.(1-27-2011)UPDATE: Greg Biffle tweeted Thursday: "Its a girl!!!! Barbie doll not a fishing rod".AND: Kenseth's baby is due in late April, Biffle's on July 10.(Scene Daily)(1-27-2010)

Roush Fenway partners with Navistar: Roush Fenway Racing has announced a multi-year organization-wide partnership with Navistar. The agreement will see all Roush Fenway haulers transported to all tests and races behind Navistar's International LoneStar Series Diesel Trucks.(Roush Fenway Racing)(1-27-2011)

Minor Roush re-organization: Chip Bolin, who formerly worked as the race engineer for Matt Kenseth's #17 team -- including a stint as the crew chief -- took over the Roush Fenway Racing engineering leadership role from Chris Andrews during Preseason Thunder. Heading into the 2010 season, the engineering department used a two-headed approach, with veteran RFR man Andrews heading the race engineering and race simulation section and Tommy Wheeler overseeing the chassis development and fabrication section. In the offseason Andrews, who has experience as a Cup crew chief, was named crew chief for newcomer Trevor Bayne's RFR Nationwide Series program (NASCAR.com)(1-23-2011)

Roush Fenway Racing names new President: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Steve Newmark has been named president of its multi-car racing organization. Newmark will succeed Geoff Smith in the position; Smith is retiring at the end of December after serving in the role for the previous 13 years. Newmark, who previously was a shareholder at the law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson, joined the organization as senior vice president of business operations in April. He brings an innovative skill set and fresh approach, highlighted by extensive NASCAR and outside sports and entertainment experience, to the position. "We are excited about Steve coming on board as our president," said Roush Fenway owner Jack Roush. "Steve has a solid background working in all areas of sports and brings new ideas and insight into our organization. Importantly, he has been part of the Roush Fenway family for many years, beginning as outside counsel and then as head of our business operations this year. Geoff Smith did an outstanding job of running the business affairs of our company for the past 20 years and we could not have done this without him. Geoff's leadership has set the bar high and we believe that Steve is the right person to ensure that we remain a leader in the marketplace and in the garage. Since his arrival, I've been extremely pleased with his business acumen, work ethic and his desire to engage in all aspects of our business. We are certainly excited to move forward with Steve at the helm."(Roush Fenway Racing)(12-20-2010)

Fennig to stay with #17 team: #17-Matt Kenseth, speaking at the Matt Kenseth fan club party on Saturday, confirmed that Jimmy Fennig will be back as crew chief on the #17 next year.(Matt Kenseth Fan Club Facebook page)(12-12-2010)

No major changes planned at Roush: While only two of his four teams made it to victory lane in 2010 and accounted for just four of the season's 36 race wins, team co-owner Jack Roush says he doesn't anticipate wholesale changes within the Roush Fenway Racing organization during the offseason. That doesn't mean there won't be movement, but it's unlikely there will be major changes involving all four of the organization's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams. "We're re-evaluating everybody's job, from crew chiefs to engineers to tire changers for all four of our programs," Roush said Tuesday while attending the Raybestos Rookie of the Year awards luncheon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "We'll certainly build on the strength we have had, but if we have a weakness or see an opportunity ... again, promoting from within whenever possible and generally that is our trademark. We will be looking for ways to improve ourselves." Roush Fenway Racing fields Sprint Cup teams for four drivers - #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth and #6-David Ragan. Biffle, Edwards and Kenseth qualified for NASCAR's Chase For The Sprint Cup while Ragan finished 24th in points.
Kenseth's team was one of two for Roush Fenway that had notable personnel changes take place during the season. After starting the year with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer, Todd Parrott was named crew chief following the Daytona 500. In June, veteran Jimmy Fennig replaced Parrott. Ragan finished outside the top 20 in points for the second consecutive year after finishing 13th in 2008. His team also saw a change in crew chiefs during the year as Blickensderfer returned to the top of the pit box in September, replacing Donnie Wingo. There could be changes to members of the pit crews. As for his organization's Nationwide Series program, Roush said he hopes to field three teams in 2011 - for Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.(SceneDaily)(11-28-2010)

Tiebreaker Gives Kenseth's Crew Tissot Pit Road Season Championship: The closely contested Tissot pit road competition, which saw four teams tied for the lead, came down to a tiebreaker to determine the season pit crew champion.
Matt Kenseth's #17 crew was awarded the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship as a result of winning the tiebreaker that called for the team whose driver finished the highest in the final NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. Kenseth's team shared the lead with the crews for #24-Jeff Gordon, #18-Kyle Busch and #1-Jamie McMurray, each scoring four pit road victories during the 2010 campaign. The #17 crew won the tiebreaker with Kenseth leading the way among the four drivers with a fifth-place finish in the driver point standings. For winning the season-long Tissot Pit Road Precision Award title the #17 team will receive a $105,000 bonus from Tissot plus Tissot watches for the pit crew members and driver.
The #17 Roush Fenway Racing crew will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to accept the prize money and Tissot watches at the Champion's Week NASCAR/NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, Thursday, Dec. 2 in the Bellagio Ballroom.
Kenseth's over-the-wall crew consists of: Justin Nottestad (front-tire changer), Joe Crossen (front-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Garrett Reding (rear-tire carrier), Cameron Cobb (jackman), Brad Robison (gasman) and Dave McDonald (catch can). The crew chief is Jimmy Fennig and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.
"The entire #17 Crown Royal pit crew did a tremendous job this season in the pits," said pit crew coach Ward. "We worked very hard on pit stops throughout the year, so it's an honor to know that for the second year in a row, our Roush Fenway organization has won the Tissot award." Last year's Tissot Pit Road Precision Award winner also came from the Roush Fenway Racing stable with Greg Biffle's #16 crew taking top honors. A total of 19 different teams won the Tissot award in 2010. Each weekly-winning crew received $5,000 plus a Tissot watch. The weekly Tissot Pit Road Precision Award winner went to the team whose car spent the least amount of time on pit road and finished on the lead lap. The competition was designed to recognize and reward the extraordinary talents of Sprint Cup pit crews (Tissot), see standings and race-by-race winners on the 2010 Pit Crew News page.(11-24-2010)

Career start 400 for Kenseth: Roush Fenway's #17-Matt Kenseth will make his 400th Sprint Cup start this wekeend at Homestead-Miami. During that span, Kenseth has 18 wins, 117 top fives and 167 top 10 finishes and a Series Championship (RFR)(11-17-2010)

Edwards wins with FR9 Engine, will run all races in 2011: Carl Edwards' Ford Fusion has been on an impressive winning streak, earning front row starting positions and capturing the win in the last two Nationwide Series races. Edward's also qualified on the pole during this week's Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway and swept the weekend by winning the Kobalt Tools 500. Edwards drives the #99 Aflac Ford Fusion powered by Roush Yates' new FR9 engine. The FR9 is the first Ford purpose-built race engine ever engineered and produced at Roush Yates Engines in Mooresville, NC. The new Ford engine has been integrated slowly into the Sprint Cup Series throughout the second half of the 2010 season with help from Roush Fenway Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports' cars racing the engine intermittently. It has been a remarkable learning period for the FR9, with a total of 5 poles and 3 wins, including Edwards' win this weekend that required both horsepower and efficient fuel mileage to beat Championship contenders Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. "The new FR9 engine that Ford helped us with certainly was a factor today," said Jack Roush, owner of Roush Fenway Racing. "The fact that we were able to save gas and still have enough speed to maintain position on the race track was all very good. I'm thrilled to be in Victory Lane this weekend." Even though a Championship is out of reach for Ford this year, the FR9 engine has shown an impressive increase in performance and reliability throughout the second half of the 2010 Sprint Cup season. These improvements bring enthusiasm to the Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines camps, as they plan to run the FR9 in all Ford cars for the full 2011 Sprint Cup Season.
"I'm excited to be running the FR9 in all Fords for the entire 2011 Sprint Cup Season and soon to come for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series," said Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates Engines. "Carl's win at Phoenix is just another testament to the power Roush Yates' FR9 engine is capable of. Everyone at the engine shop has been working hard to get this engine just right, and we are extremely proud of Roush Fenway Racing and their accomplishments with it this year. I look forward to watching the FR9 race at Ford Championship weekend next week at Homestead, as well as the 2011 Sprint Cup Season."(Roush Yates Engines)(11-15-2010)

Drivers visiting Walter Reed: NASCAR's annual visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center is set for Thursday, with a total of 10 drivers scheduled to attend along with NASCAR President Mike Helton. Drivers expected to visit include #43-AJ Allmendinger, #16-Greg Biffle, #2-Kurt Busch, #38-David Gilliland,#17-Matt Kenseth, #12-Brad Keselowski, #98-Paul Menard, #87-Joe Nemechek, #39-Ryan Newman and #82-Scott Speed. Show cars on display are expected to be #39 U.S. ARMY Chevy, #88 National Guard Chevy, #99 Scotts Ford, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, #11 FedEx Toyota, #24 National Guard Chevy, #10 Sprint show car and a NASCAR/Walter Reed Army Medical Center car.(NASCAR)(9-22-2010)

Roush Fenway Remains a Leader in Sustainablity: Its no secret that Roush Fenway Racing recycles 96 percent of every race car but it's their continued efforts to become more sustainable that is really paying off for the environment. In 2009 the team recycled 65 tons of plastics, metal and paper and implemented small but impactful changes across all its facilities. These efforts helped the team meet its goal of an overall 10 percent improvement in indoor air quality; reduction of water consumption; increase in waste reduction and recycling; and improvement in energy usage over the last year.
In total the team recycled 26,660 pounds of plastic in 2009, up from 12,427 pounds in 2008. The increased number reflects a company-wide education and an increase in the number of items that were recycled beyond drink bottles. The team also recycled 11,335 pounds of paper, down from 19,628 pounds the year before in part because of the efforts to either not print documents or use auto-duplexing.
Additionally, the team has switched to biodegradable soy-based products where practical (instead of harmful chemical degreasers); eliminated Styrofoam cups; switched from 400w bulbs to 360w bulbs; mandated a managed forestry content for all paper, envelopes, etc.; and added additional occupancy sensors in the race and fabrication shops to reduce energy consumption. The effort doesn't stop at the shop though, Roush Fenway is extending its efforts beyond the race team as well.
Roush Fenway is a participant in the Cabarrus Sustainability Council, a joint effort between the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development that works to promote sustainability through public and private collaborations. Just this week, the Council announced a partnership between local school systems, the business community and local government to bring a comprehensive recycling program to local schools beginning this school year.(RFR)(8-29-2010)

NTSB issues preliminary report on Roush crash: The National Transportation Safety Board issued its preliminary report on Jack Roush's plane crash that happened last month at Oshkosh, Wis. The report does not assign blame for the incident but does provide a few more details of what happened. In the report, it states that Roush's "airplane appeared to overshoot the runway centerline during this turn (a left turn for the runway) and then level its wings momentarily before entering a slight right bank simultaneously as the nose of the airplane pitched up. The airplane then turned left toward the runway centerline and began a descent. During this descent, the airplane's pitch appeared to increase until the airplane entered a right bank and struck the grass area west of the runway in a nose down, right wing low attitude.'' The report -- remember this is a preliminary report, a final one will come later -- did not mention the traffic "conflict'' he encountered upon landing that he said contributed to the incident. Such details are likely to be examined in the final report. The preliminary report stated that air traffic controllers were interviewed, amateur video was reviewed, the NTSB spent two days examining the plane before giving it back to Roush and found "no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies'' in the on-scene inspections of the "airframe structure, flight control systems, or two turbo-fan engines.'' The report also states that "several non-volatile memory devices were removed from the airplane and were retained for future download. A cockpit voice recorder was recovered and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division in Washington, D.C. for readout."(Hampton Roads)(8-15-2010)

Jack Roush back at the track: NASCAR team owner Jack Roush was back at the racetrack Friday, having permanently lost vision in his left eye but otherwise feeling lucky to survive yet another plane crash. And yes, he expects to fly again. Roush, who crashed his jet just over two weeks ago while trying to land at an air show in Wisconsin, said he ruptured his left eyeball in the crash and doesn't expect to ever be able to see out of it again. "Everything will come back, except for the eye," he told reporters at Michigan International Speedway. Roush then joked that he uses his right eye to examine spark plugs anyway. Wearing sunglasses and his trademark Panama-style hat, Roush was present on pit road for qualifying. He had left the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., earlier this week. In addition to his eye injury, Roush said he broke his jaw, sustained a compression fracture in his back and hurt his left cheek.(Associated Press)(8-13-2010)

Roush released from hospital: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises, was released from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., yesterday. "I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and concern I have received the past two weeks," Roush said. "Our teams and drivers have not missed a beat in my absence, and I am proud of the effort they have put forth. I look forward to rejoining them at the track soon." It has not yet been determined when Roush will return to the race track.(Roush Fenway PR)(8-12-2010)

Roush hopes to make it to Michigan: Angelique Chengelis reported on ESPN's NASCAR Now Sunday morning that team owner Jack Roush is hoping to be at the Michigan race next weekend. He continues to recover from his airplace accident at the Mayo Clinic and his attendance at the track will depend on his progress this week.(8-8-2010)

Decals on Roush cars: To show support for the boss, Jack Roush, who was injured in a airplance accident this past week, all the Roush Fenway Racing stock cars competing this weekend will sport a special decal. This can be seen on the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars at Pocono Raceway as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series entries at Iowa Speedway.(roushperformance.com)(7-31-2010)

Roush has more surgery; no word when back to the track: Multi-team owner Jack Roush had another surgery Saturday and a time frame for him to return to the race track has not been determined, Roush Fenway Racing General Manager Robbie Reiser said Sunday. Roush was involved in a plane crash Tuesday at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The Roush Fenway Racing co-owner was able to walk away from the crash but pictures showed a bloodied face. Reiser said he was unsure of the full extent of the injuries. Roush, 68, is being treated for facial injuries at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., according to the team. "I know there was a surgery done yesterday, but most of it is an evaluation of what they're going to do and I think you'll see a lot of updates coming this week," Reiser said prior to the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. "It's going to be a while [before he returns]. They've got some work to do there. They haven't really discussed that with us right now." Reiser's role will increase some with Roush in the hospital. Roush typically visits the race shop each Tuesday and then is at the track on the weekend. "Jack's a big part of our company and has been for a long, long time," Reiser said. "Whenever something like this happens, everybody has to pick up a little bit and help along. Jack has always taken care of a lot of stuff we have had at the race track, so I am here for him not being here." Roush called Reiser on Friday and they talked about the organization's performance - as it still looks for that first Cup win of the season.(more at SceneDaily)(8-1-2010)

Thursday update about Jack Roush's condition: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises, was transferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Wednesday evening. Following surgery Tuesday night related to the facial damage sustained in the accident, he remains in serious, but stable condition. Roush was injured in a plane accident at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc., on Tuesday. He will continue to be treated at Mayo Clinic for his facial injuries. The Roush organization would like to thank the physicians and staff at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisc., for the care and treatment provided during his stay. Roush Fenway Racing would also like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and well wishes. Those wishing to make a charitable donation in the name of Jack Roush are encouraged to contribute to Speedway Children's Charities at www.speedwaycharities.org. Please identify your contribution as "Jack Roush" in the notes section (Roush Fenway Racing)(7-29-2010)

Roush suffers minor injuries in plane crash UPDATE 2: NASCAR team owner Jack Roush was in serious but stable condition after walking away from a plane crash at Whitman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. on Tuesday night. "There are injuries. Possible surgery," Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith said in a text message to The Associated Press. "But he walked out of the plane." Smith said Roush's injuries include facial lacerations. Roush was flying his private jet, a Beechcraft Premier 1A from Detroit. The jet made hard contact on landing and cracked the fuselage. Brenda Strickland, a friend of Roush's, also was on board the plane. NASCAR journalist Bob Margolis, who is writing a book about Roush's life, was told that Roush and Strickland were not seriously hurt. "Jack got out and had some blood on his face," Margolis said. "Apparently he bumped his head. They both were taken to a local hospital for observation, but I've been told they are OK." Roush, an aviation buff, was attending the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture in Oshkosh this week.
In a statement on the EAA website, officials said a Beechcraft Premier business jet registered to Roush Fenway Racing, LLC was involved in a landing accident at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The accident occurred at approximately 6:15 pm/ct, the statement said. According to the EAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and Winnebago County Sheriff's Department confirmed that two occupants on board were Roush and Strickland of Plymouth, Mich. "Each exited the aircraft following the accident," the statement said. "Both were transported to local hospitals, with Roush in serious but stable condition and Strickland with non-life threatening injuries. The NTSB is leading the investigation into the accident."(ESPN, see an image of the plane at avweb.com)(7-27-2019)UPDATE: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH® Enterprises, has been hospitalized following a plane accident at Wittman Air Field in OshKosh, Wisc. Roush, in town for the annual EAA AirVenture show, was landing his Hawker Beechcraft Premier jet when the accident occurred. He was transported to a local hospital. Dr. Kevin Wasco, the attending physician, says that Roush is in serious but stable condition. His injuries are not life threatening.(Roush Racing)(7-28-2010)UPDATE 2: Jack Roush remains hospitalized in serious, but stable condition following a plane accident at Wittman Air Field in Oshkosh, Wisc., yesterday. He is currently under observation for facial injuries sustained in the accident. His passenger, Brenda Stricklin, was treated and released from a Wisconsin hospital this afternoon. The entire Roush organization would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and well wishes. Those wishing to make a charitable donation in the name of Jack Roush are encouraged to contribute to Speedway Children's Charities at www.speedwaycharities.org. Please identify your contribution as "Jack Roush" in the notes section.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-28-2010)

Roush Fenway Hits One Million-Mile Mark in Sprint Cup: On February 14, 1988 Jack Roush launched into his first official foray into the big-time world of NASCAR racing. The day would be a short one - lasting just under 50 of the scheduled 500 miles of the world's biggest race. It was a humble beginning for what would grow into one of the most successful organizations in professional sports. Today - almost 25 years later - Roush Fenway Racing has covered over one million miles in Sprint Cup action, enough miles to cover the Earth 40 times over. The miles were turned by 16 different Cup drivers over a 23-plus year period. During that span, Roush Fenway has fielded 2,688 Sprint Cup entries, captured 116 wins, while collecting 632 top fives, 1102 top 10s and 65 poles. The organization has churned 768,810 laps, leading 32,754 laps along the way, while capturing two championships and finishing the season top two on nine occasions.(RFR PR)(7-23-2010)

Reiser to return as Kenseth's crew chief? Loomis moving to Roush? Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Robbie Reiser is likely to return as crewchief for Matt Kenseth's #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford next season. Team owner Jack Roush pulled veteran Jimmy Fennig out of Roush Fenway's R&D Department to replace Todd Parrott as crew chief last week, the second change of the season for the #17 team. Fennig is Kenseth's fifth crewchief since 2007, and said last week that he expects to remain atop the pit box for the remainder of the 2010 campaign. Sources tell Sirius Speedway that there is "a very strong possibility" that RFR General Manager Robbie Reiser will return to the post in 2011. "Robbie wants to come back," said one source on condition of anonymity, "but he's doing such a good job as GM that Jack can't justify making a move right now. Next season, expect to see Reiser back on the pit box, with Robbie Loomis succeeding him as General Manager." Kenseth admitted that consideration is being given to bringing Reiser back as crewchief, saying, "He probably would have filled in for the rest of the year (and tried) to do both, but there just are not enough hours in a day."(Sirius Speedway)(6-28-2010)

Kenseth dicusses crew chief change: Matt Kenseth took responsibility for his first crew chief change of the year in February, and on Friday, team owner Jack Roush said the call for a second switch was his. Roush surprised veteran Jimmy Fennig by taking him out of the research and development department and putting him in charge of Kenseth's #17 Sprint Cup Series team. Todd Parrott was reassigned back to his old job, overseeing Roush Fenway Racing's superspeedway program. "Matt and I shared a concern that we weren't getting the optimum number of changes in the garage (during practice) based on the plan and the preparation and the execution of the pre-race activities," Roush said at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. "That was not the case in the first few races when Todd was at the helm, but, for whatever reason - I don't know if Matt stopped talking to him or I stopped talking to him or what happened, but for whatever reason - we kind of had a breakdown in team communication and the effectiveness we had of getting ready for the race." Fennig is the fifth crew chief since 2007. Robbie Reiser became general manger of Roush Fenway's Sprint Cup operations at the end of that season. Although it has been suggested that the only answer for Kenseth is to be reunited with Reiser, Reiser is too valuable to the organization as a whole, Kenseth said. "He probably would have came and filled in for the rest of the year if he could try to do both, but there just are not enough hours in a day," Kenseth said. "It does seem like I'm pretty hard on crew chiefs lately, that's for sure, but we've just had some opportunities within the organization. . . . We just had some opportunities to mix things up a little bit and see if we can get the team heading in the direction we think it needs to be headed in."(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-27-2010)

New crew chief for Kenseth UPDATE: #17-Matt Kenseth and crew chief Todd Parrott have parted ways. Former championship winning crew chief Jimmy Fennig, who was running Roush Fenway Racing's R & D Center, will act as temporary crew chief for the #17 Roush Fenway Ford until a permanent solution can be found. Fennig is a longtime Roush employee and worked with #6-David Ragan last year. Parrott replaced Drew Blickensderfer following the season-opening Daytona 500. Together Parrott and Kenseth posted four top fives and eight top 10 finishes. The pair's best performance together was second at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. Parrott could not be reached for comment but is expected to return to the Roush's research and development department.(FoxSports)(6-23-2010)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has named Jimmy Fennig as the crew chief for Matt Kenseth and the #17 Crown Royal Ford in the Sprint Cup Series. The move pairs Kenseth - who drove Roush Fenway to its first Sprint Cup Championship in 2003 - with Fennig, who served as crew chief on Roush Fenway's 2004 championship team. "I am very pleased that we have been able to place these two together on the #17," said team owner Jack Roush. "These guys were both instrumental in our back-to-back Sprint Cup Championships in 2003 and 2004, with Matt driving us to our first Cup Championship and Jimmy of course being instrumental in the 2004 championship as the team's crew chief. We would expect this pairing to yield strong results as both of these guys are extremely talented and among the best in the business at what they do." Fennig will be joined on the #17 by car chief Richie Davis. Davis had been working in Roush Fenway's research and development department along side Fennig. Todd Parrott, who had been working as crew chief on the #17, will serve as the new R&D manager at Roush Fenway; a position formally held by Fennig. Current #17 car chief Charles "Cully" Barraclough will also move over to car chief the R&D program.(Roush Fenway Racing)(6-23-2010)

New Ford engine to run in some cars at Pocono: Robbie Reiser, general manager at Roush Fenway Racing, said that some cars in the organization and at Richard Petty Motorsports will use the new Ford engine next week at Pocono before all the teams for both organizations use it the following week at Michigan. The engine debuted last season but has been used sparingly this season with plans for all the Ford teams to be running the engine this summer. Only the Wood Brothers, who are running a limited schedule, have used the new engine throughout this season. Scheduled to run the new Ford engine at Pocono next weekend are #43-AJ Allmendinger, #17-Matt Kenseth, #16-Greg Biffle and #99-Carl Edwards. Roush and RPM will use the new engine in all the remaining races, Reiser said, except next month at New Hampshire and Infineon Raceway and at Watkins Glen and Bristol in August.(Roanoke Times)(5-31-2010)

Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea Vodka Salutes Military Roots: As Americans across the country prepare to remember the American heroes who serve our country with a variety of responsible Memorial Day cookouts and celebrations, race fans will look to one of their favorite drivers to help pay tribute. During the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Matt Kenseth will have Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea vodka on the hood of his #17 Ford Fusion in an effort to honor fighter pilots everywhere. As the legend is told, Jeremiah Weed became the drink of choice for men and women fighter pilots after a Fighter Jet went down without injury outside of Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. When the group involved in the incident later returned to the site, they toasted with Jeremiah Weed. Since, Air Force pilots have toasted with Jeremiah Weed Bourbon upon finishing their flights. If Kenseth can wheel the #17 Ford to Victory Lane, Jeremiah Weed will make a $100,000 donation to a military-themed charity. Regardless of how the Jeremiah Weed car finishes, a total of $10,000 will be donated.(PR)(5-28-2010)

Kenseth's son wins at Winchester: Ross Kenseth, Bret Miles, Sr. and Kevin Claborn took hard fought victories on the opening day of the legendary Winchester Speedway. On a day that threatened rain but was dry all day, with a strong wind, the racing was hot as drivers fought every lap for the win. Two races with cars side by side on the last lap and one winner that only led the last lap kept the crowd on the edge of their seats the entire day. Kenseth started his first trip to Winchester by setting fast time for the Manning Service 100, just beating John VanDoorn by only .008 of a second. He then drew a four putting Tommy St. John on the pole with Scott Hantz on the outside of the front row. St. John jumped out to the early lead, with VanDoorn following him and pressuring him as they ran out front.(Winchester Speedway)(5-18-2010)

Roush Fenway Racing spring Fan Day: Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to host their spring Fan Day event on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at their headquarters in Concord, N.C. Fans are invited to Roush Fenway to participate in activities that will include two autograph sessions, with the first session starting at 11:30 a.m. featuring Roush Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Colin Braun. The second autograph session will start at 12:30 and feature Jack Roush, David Ragan, and Matt Kenseth. A limited number of tickets for each session will be handed out at 8:00 a.m. that morning. To qualify for an autograph ticket, fans must bring two non-perishable items or a monetary donation to help support our local Cabarrus County food pantries. There will be sponsor displays and food vendors for fans to enjoy outside and the Roush Fenway museum (with new displays) and store will be open for fans to peruse and shop. The Roush Fenway Racing store and museum will be open with special extended hours during the May and October race weeks. For times and more info see roushfenway.com.(5-4-2010)

Special scheme for Kenseth in two races: Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka is scheduled to be the primary aponaor for #17 Matt Kenseth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. See image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(4-13-2010)

Kenseth talks about Martinsville contact with Gordon: Is Matt Kenseth still upset with Jeff Gordon over getting bumped out of the way during the green-white-checkered flag finish at Martinsville? During an interview in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, Performance Racing Network and Texas Motor Speedway announcer Brad Gillie asked Kenseth about the incident. Kenseth chuckled and said "He never likes the way I race him so...I don't know...he's honestly taken me out of three top-three finishes now and he still went on to finish third. I barely bumped into him at Martinsville and got under him and tried to go for a win and I thought we were gonna race side-by-side for the win on the last lap and instead he decided to wreck me and deliberately try to ruin my day. So, it's in the past and I'm just gonna move on and just start over the next week. He's gonna have to race how he wants to race and he's gonna have his opinions and I'm gonna have my opinions on things and we'll just go on from there." Kenseth took part in NASCAR's winners circle program at the International Bowling Hall of Fame and museum Wednesday to help promote the upcoming races at Texas Motor Speedway.(PRN Garage Pass)(4-8-2010)

Crown Royal Black on the #17: This weekend at Phoenix, Kenseth will pilot the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-7-2010)UPDATE: When the dust settles for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, everything will be covered in Black, at least for Matt Kenseth. The former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion will have Crown Royal Black, the newest addition to the Crown Royal portfolio, serving as primary sponsor of the #17 Ford for at least 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events throughout the 2010 season. Beginning in Phoenix, the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford, which will be named the "Royal Rebel" car to showcase the boldness of the new whisky, will hit the track in an effort to encourage adult fans to enjoy the new product responsibly. As an added bonus, if the Crown Royal Black car finishes in the top-10 during any of the special paint scheme races, the first adult race fan to tweet "Crown Royal Black" and Matt's finishing position to @PR17CrownRoyal will receive a special phone call from Kenseth or a member of the #17 team.(Crown Royal / Taylor PR)(4-8-2010)

Jack Roush to be Honored with Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award: On Friday, March 12 Jack Roush will receive the highest compliment in the hot rod world as he will be presented with the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony takes place during the grand opening breakfast of the 12th Annual HotRod & Restoration Trade Show in front of nearly one thousand attendees at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. "Being named a recipient of the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award is obviously a tremendous distinction and something completely unexpected," Roush said. "I remember Robert (Petersen) always being a great ambassador for the auto industry and hot rods. It is an honor to be mentioned among the many legendary names who have received this award in the past." The Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented annually since 2002. Previous recipients include Wally Parks (NHRA), Carroll Shelby, George Barris, Vic Edelbrock, the Ford family, Alex Xydias (So-Cal Speed Shop), and "Speedy" Bill Smith (Speedway Motors).(Roush Fenway)(3-10-2010)

Valvoline to sponsor Kenseth UPDATE: hearing and seeing that Valvoline will sponsor #17-Matt Kenseth in a few 2010 Sprint Cup races. Supposedly for three races. See an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(12-12-2009)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announced that Valvoline, the leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive products, will sponsor the #17 entry and driver Matt Kenseth for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during the 2010 season. The #17 Valvoline Ford Fusion will debut this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway and then will also serve as the primary sponsor for April's Talladega race weekend as well as the November Cup Series race in Phoenix [11/21]. Valvoline first teamed up with Roush Fenway Racing in 1990, and together the duo has brought home 44 wins in the Sprint Cup series [many with #6-Mark Martin]. Valvoline is the official motor oil at Roush Fenway Racing, and has been providing Americans with the best motor oil and automotive products longer than any other motor oil company.(RFR), see images of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(3-3-2010)

New crew chief for Kenseth: UPDATE: in a bit of a surprise move, Veteran crew chief Todd Parrott has been appointed crew chief of Roush Fenway's #17 Sprint Cup Crown Royal Ford team with driver Matt Kenseth. Parrott will take over the role effective immediately. Drew Blickensderfer, who has served as crew chief on the #17 since the start of the 2009 season [winning the Daytona 500 and race afterwards in Calif], will assume a role in Roush Fenway's research and development department. Parrott, who won a Sprint Cup championship with Dale Jarrett in 1999, is the third winningest active crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 29 career wins.(RFR)(2-17-2010)UPDATE: Matt Kenseth says it became obvious that something had to change when his crew members were becoming too much like him. "You guys say I don't show emotion sometimes. I kind of felt like the whole group was sort of like that," Kenseth said Friday, explaining an unexpected crew chief change made after only one race. "I just felt like it needed something to throw a spark in the thing." Back in California where Kenseth got his last victory a year ago, Todd Parrott replaces Drew Blickensderfer atop the #17 Ford pit box this weekend. After Blickensderfer became his crew chief last year, Kenseth won at Daytona and California. That momentum didn't carry over because Kenseth hasn't won since, and missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for the first time. But instead of making a change during the offseason, Kenseth made the move after an eighth-place finish at Daytona last weekend, when he managed a top-10 finish after running in the middle of the pack most of Sunday's race. "We were just missing something on the team," Kenseth said. "I didn't feel the way we operated at Daytona that we could win races and win championships." Kenseth took the blame for the timing of the switch, explaining that team owner Jack Roush asked him at the end of last season if any changes needed to be made. At the time, Kenseth felt like everything was OK and that Blickensderfer deserved the benefit of a full season and full offseason. "It's really hard to explain the timing of the change. It doesn't make any sense," Kenseth said. "Instead of dragging it out, it was just something that needed to be done. ... Get a head start on this thing instead of waiting until we're halfway into the season and it's too late to dig ourselves out." Roush described himself as "really conflicted" about the switch but said that it became clear when he met with general manager Robbie Reiser and Kenseth this week that the change was necessary. Roush said there was "zero sponsor pressure" for a switch. The team owner also, without elaborating, used the term "interim" concerning the role for Parrott, who was the crew chief when Dale Jarrett won the 1999 Cup championship.(Associated Press)(2-19-2010)

Roush Fenway Fords to Carry Special Decal: Roush Fenway's race cars will each carry a special decal honoring the life and cause of Olympic medalist skier and multiple sclerosis (MS) advocate, Jimmie Heuga, in this Sunday's Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway. Heuga passed away Monday at the age of 66 in Colorado; 46 years to the day that he won his bronze medal in the 1964 Winter Olympics. Heuga, a college skiing teammate of Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith at the University of Colorado, was a bronze medalist in the 1964 Olympic games, but will most be remembered for founding 'Can Do Multiple Sclerosis' (formerly The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis) a national nonprofit organization that has served as a leading provider of innovative lifestyle empowerment programs for people with MS and their support partners. Heuga became one of the first two Americans -- along with teammate Billy Kidd -- to win an Olympic medal in Alpine skiing. He was diagnosed with MS in 1970 at the age of 26, but refused to succumb to the neurological disease. He instead became a champion for others suffering from the disease, and his campaign to demonstrate that MS did not necessarily mean a life of inactivity is credited with helping to change the mindset about MS and exercise. For more information on the 'Can Do Multiple Sclerosis' organization, visit: www.mscando.org.(RFR)(2-14-2010)

Three drivers to run new Ford engine in Daytona 500: Ford Racing announced that #17-Matt Kenseth and #19-Elliott Sadler will join #21-Bill Elliott as drivers sporting the new Ford FR9 engine Sunday in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.(Racin' Today)(2-13-2010)

Crown Royal to sponsor Kenseth for more races : Roush Fenway Racing announced that Crown Royal has extended the number of races in which it will be primary sponsor of driver Matt Kenseth and the #17 Sprint Cup Series team. Crown Royal will serve as the primary sponsor for 35 Sprint Cup Series races in 2010 [of 38 races counting the Bud Shootout & All-Star race). The makers of Crown Royal Canadian whisky, a subsidiary of Diageo plc, have been partners with Roush Fenway Racing dating back to 2003. "I'm thrilled that Crown Royal chose to expand their sponsorship of our team for the entire 2010 season," said Kenseth, one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to win the Sprint Cup rookie of the year award, a Sprint Cup Championship and the Daytona 500. "I know that this is going to be a successful season for our #17 team and it will be great to represent the Crown Royal brand for 35 Cup Series events. I had the honor of working with DIAGEO and their Smirnoff ICE brand back in 2003 where we developed a great relationship. In addition to the sponsorship, we look forward to helping Crown Royal promote its responsible drinking platform, as well as kick-off the annual Crown Royal "Your Name Here" program this week, which awards naming rights to the Spring race at Richmond International Raceway to an adult fan." Kenseth will make his inaugural run in the #17 Crown Royal Ford on Saturday, Feb. 6 for the non-points exhibition event, the Budweiser Shootout, at Daytona International Speedway. The first points race of the season will be the Daytona 500 the on Sunday, Feb. 14 in which Kenseth is the defending champion of the event (Roush Fenway Racing). Supposedly Valvoline will be the sponsor for the other three races.(2-5-2010)

Roush close to having sponsors for all four cars: Three of Roush Fenway Racing's four Cup cars, for drivers #6-David Ragan (UPS), #16-Greg Biffle (3M/Post It) and #99-Carl Edwards (Aflac/Subway/Kellogg's) are fully sponsored, Smith said; but 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford is not. "Within a very few days I think we'll be able to announce we have a fully-sponsored 17 car," RFR president Geoff Smith said of the car that has a partial season of funding from Crown Royal.
(NASCAR.com)(1-14-2010)

Jack Roush to Be Inducted Into NMPA Hall of Fame: Jack Roush will be one of four honorees to be inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame this Saturday night in Concord, North Carolina. Roger Penske, Rusty Wallace and Robert Yates will also be welcomed into the NMPA Hall of Fame this weekend. "Jack Roush's induction to the NMPA Hall of Fame is a well deserved honor for a man who has impacted not only NASCAR but racing with his innovations and ingenuity throughout his career," remarked Dustin Long, President, National Motorsports Press Association. "It will truly be an honor to be welcomed to the list of NMPA Hall of Fame inductees," said Roush. "The role of the media who cover NASCAR has certainly evolved over the years but I think we would all agree that now more than ever the job of informing the world about our great sport is of tremendous importance. I know the members of the NMPA are among those who care the most about both the history and the future of our sport so I consider this induction into their Hall of Fame a most cherished honor."(RFR)(1-14-2010)

Menard to run full Nationwide season: Roush Fenway will field four full-time teams in the 2010 Nationwide Series -- including a #98 Ford for Paul Menard, who races for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Cup Series -- and RFR president Geoff Smith said Wednesday that the stable sold has more than 75% of the sponsorship of its eight-car fleet in NASCAR's two top national series. Menard will run his first complete schedule since 2006, when he finished sixth in the championship for the second consecutive season before stepping into the Cup Series full time. That car is fully sponsored by the Menards home improvement store chain and a variety of partners.
Smith said RFR's other three Nationwide programs had varying sponsorship gaps. Former series champion Carl Edwards will again compete full time in both Cup and Nationwide, running a #60 Ford sponsored by Fastenal and Copart in the secondary series. Smith said Edwards' car has "four open races." Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run full schedules as rookie of the year candidates in the #16 and #6 cars. Braun's car has 18 races with Con-way Freight and two more with 3M, leaving 15 of the series' 35 races unsponsored. Stenhouse has 18 races with CitiFinancial backing, leaving "the remainder for sale," Smith said. Biffle is part of a previously announced deal to run a partial Nationwide schedule for Baker Curb Racing, but "at this point in time David Ragan, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle are not doing Nationwide races with us."(NASCAR.com)(1-14-2010)

Valvoline to sponsor Kenseth: hearing and seeing that Valvoline will sponsor #17-Matt Kenseth in a few 2010 Sprint Cup races. No word how many or which races. See an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(12-12-2009)

Blickensderfer honored: Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief of the #17 Ford, won the Moog Problem Solver of the Year Award for 2009. This marks the first time Blickensderfer has won the award coming of a season that included winning the Daytona 500 and following that up with a win at the Auto Club Speedway the next weekend. Blickensderfer led his team to two wins, one pole, seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2009, his first full-season as crew chief for Matt Kenseth and the #17 team.(Roush Fenway Racing)(12-5-2009)

Roush Racing helps out NC Auto Racing HOF: For many, being able to give to others during this holiday season will be a difficult task. But it is not always the gift of tangible goods or money that can mean the most to its recipient. A recent event took place at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Mooresville, NC. On Thursday, November 19th, the NC Auto Racing HOF mailbox on Knob Hill Road was struck and destroyed by a customer. One of the museum's volunteers, an 80-year-old man, went outside to try to resurrect the mailbox. Watching him struggle with this task from across the street was someone from Roush Fenway Racing, who dispatched a group of their shop workers to come over and help. They poured cement for the new post, fabricated the mailbox, and installed it on the same day. All of this was done without their being asked to do so, and without any payment whatsoever. Replacing a mail box doesn't seem like a big expense but to small non-profit organizations like the Hall of Fame, it has an impact.(NCARHOF)(11-25-2009)

Final race for DeWalt on the #17:
This weekend will mark the end of an era for Matt Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing. After more than a decade serving as the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 team, DEWALT will run its last race aboard the No. 17 Ford Fusion this weekend at Homestead. One of the most successful partnerships in NASCAR history, the duo of Kenseth and DEWALT teamed for the 2000 Rookie of the Year Award, the 2003 Championship and the 2009 Daytona 500 win during their 10-plus year tenure together.(RFR)(11-18-2009)

Roush's Smith not retiring: Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith has decided to delay his retirement. Smith said because of tough economic times and the merger between partner Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports that he will stay on at least through the 2010 season. Smith is handling a lot of the paperwork in the merger that he said is agreed to on all major issues and should be announced soon. He also plays a major role in bringing sponsors to the cars for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Smith has yet to wrap up a full season of sponsorship for the #17 of Matt Kenseth.(see more at ESPN Insiders)(11-17-2009)

USG returns to sponsor #17 at Phoenix: The #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth will carry the blue and red colors of USG Sheetrock for the third and final time this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. This week's car will be The #17 USG SHEETROCK Ford promoting the DUROCK cement board Next Gen logo (RFR). See images of the regular USG scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(11-12-2009)

150 Talladega starts for Roush: Roush Fenway will make its 150th Sprint Cup start at Talladega this weekend. Talladega is the eighth track in 2009 that the team has accomplished this feat. The first seven were Bristol, Charlotte, Daytona, Dover, Martinsville, Michigan, Pocono and Richmond.(Roush Fenway PR)(11-1-2009)

Roush to visit RPM: Jack Roush is scheduled to take a tour of the Richard Petty Motorsports facility on Wednesday.
Other managers from Roush Fenway Racing will join Rosuh on the tour of the Statesville, N.C., shop. There have been ongoing talks since before September of a merger between Yates Racing, a sister organization of Roush Fenway, and RPM. Regardless of whether RPM merges with Yates, majority team owner George Gillett has said his team will be running Fords in 2010. Given that Roush is the principal supplier of Ford engines, RPM will be working directly with RFR in one form or another.(FoxSports), see an image of a real #9 Budweiser Ford for 2010 on my #9 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2009)

New Ford engine at Talladega: Ford will delay the debut of its new Sprint Cup engine, Doug Hervey, who oversees Ford's North American racing operations, said Saturday. The engine was scheduled to have debuted next week at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Instead, Ford will debut the restrictor-plate version of the engine at Talladega in three weeks. As for the non-restrictor-plate engine, it likely will debut at Texas or Homestead.(Virginian Pilot)AND: Matt Kenseth's crew chief Drew Blickensderfer is expecting to have the new Ford FR9 engine in the #17 Fusion in two weeks at Talladega.AND: On a related note: Blickensderfer expects to return as crew chief next season even though Kenseth failed to make the Chase for the first time since the format was introduced six years ago.(FoxSports)(10-11-2009)

Kenseth going for first sweep; R+L on the #17: Leaving Fontana, California this season back in the spring most people had named #17-Matt Kenseth and Drew Blickensderfer as the hottest driver/crew chief duo in the garage after having started the season off 2-0. But the dream of being on top was short lived, especially when the team failed to make the Chase at Richmond International Raceway. But all is not lost, Kenseth and Blickensderfer have a chance to sweep Auto Club Speedway's two races this season. Kenseth tied Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson for a series high most wins at Auto Club Speedway with three after his win there earlier this season. If Kenseth is able to win this weekend it will be his first sweep at a track in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition.(NASCAR PR)AND:The #17 Ford will carry the green and gold colors of R+L carriers this weekend at California. It will be the final of four races this season with R+L Carriers as the primary on the #17 Ford.(Roush Fenway PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(10-8-2009)

Roush keeping an eye on the Henrick cars in question: Car owner Jack Roush [#'s 6,16,17,26,99 Ford's] says he understands that the two cars in question [Hendrick Motorsports #5 and #48 Chevy's] were in fact slightly "out of tolerance," in being off-set a bit to the right (which would help in aerodynamics in corner handling), although Roush said the specific 'miss' was probably too slight to be of any significant advantage. "I've been fined a lot of times for a lot of different things...and if the cars were out of tolerance by a quarter of an inch, which is what I've heard...well, the rest of the garage is held to a much tighter tolerance than that," Roush said. "So we'll see what NASCAR ultimately does about it."(mikemulhern.net)(10-5-2009)

Kenseth talks to fans in Fontana: #17-Matt Kenseth, the winner of last February's Sprint Cup race at the Auto Club Speedway, returned to the Inland Empire on Sept. 23. But he wasn't behind the wheel of a race car. After holding a press conference at the speedway, Kenseth had a question-and-answer session with nearly 200 fans in attendance before heading over to the Paul A. Biane Library in Rancho Cucamonga. There, he dropped off a load of books for the library and read to students from Grapeland Elementary School in the library courtyard.(Fontana Herald News)(10-3-2009)

Crew chief changes at Roush? UPDATE: There is supposedly a meeting planned at Roush Fenway Racing featuring General Manager Robbie Reiser and representatives from Ford. Could crew chief changes be in RFR's future? One rumor circulating NHMS Sunday morning had veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig connecting with former Roush racer Jeff Burton at RCR. Not so, Fennig said. "After 13 years with Jack, my goal is to retire from Roush Racing," Fennig said. "But I'm getting too old to be on the road." Another scenario places Fennig in a research and development role. Fennig says testing suits him just fine.(FoxSports)(9-21-2009)UPDATE: Car owner Jack Roush says that any personnel moves among his non-Chase teams will be made after the season since he's focused on the championship with Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. "I will re-evaluate every person and every position on every team this winter as I do every year,'' Roush said. He said he would make a change on a Chase team immediately if it could help that team contend for the championship.(Roanoke Times)(9-27-2009)

Kenseth carrying R&L colors at Atlanta: The #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth will carry the green and gold colors of R+L carriers this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Pep Boys Auto 500. It will be the third of four races this season with R+L Carriers as the primary on the #17 Ford also running at Charlotte in May and Daytona in July and is scheduled to run at Auto Club Speedway in Oct. Kenseth has carried the R+L Carriers paint scheme 12 times since 2006. In his 12 previous starts in the #17 R+L Carriers Ford, Kenseth has achieved 12 top-12, 10 top-10, and four top-five finishes.(Roush Fenway Racing), see images of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(9-5-2009)

Kenseth vs. Kenseth this weekend at Madison International Speedway: UPDATE: While the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit and #17-Matt Kenseth take a week off from the pressures of an intense points race to make the Chase for the Cup, the Roush Fenway driver will take on a different kind of pressure this weekend at Madison International Speedway; the race for family bragging rights. For the first time ever, Kenseth will go head-to-head on the track against his 16 year-old son, Ross, this Saturday night at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis. The Madison International Speedway weekly Rockweiler Insulation Late Models will compete in a twin 50-lap feature event that will include father vs. son, as the 2009 Daytona 500 winner competes against Ross Kenseth and the other weekly MIS competitors. The Twin 50's will be a points event for the MIS weekly Rockweiler Insulation Late Models. Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Sprint Cup Champion, will compete in a Pathfinder Chassis-prepared Late Model. (Roush Fenway PR), for more information see my Driver appearances page.(8-28-2009)UPDATE: The competitor in Matt Kenseth felt the joy of victory from winning both 50-lap feature races at Madison International Speedway Sunday. The father in him, felt disappointment for his 16-year-old son, Ross, who finished second and sixth to earn second place overall in the rain-delayed Kenseth vs. Kenseth competition. "I want my son to be happy more than I care about my own happiness," Matt Kenseth said. "I wish he was a little happier after the race, but he still finished second and sixth, he did really well. I know he's a little disappointed because he always wants to win as well, but he did a really good job and it was a pretty fun event.".(Wisconsin State Journal)(8-31-2009)

#17 team has some help at Pocono: #17-Matt Kenseth's Crew chief Drew Blickensderfer has a little extra help this week at Pocono Raceway: two high school students from Minnesota, who are helping to prep the DeWalt Tools Ford. Matthew Ludwig, 17, and Justin Dwyer, 18, were national winners in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, emerging from a field of more than 9,700 entries of high school juniors and seniors from all 50 states. Part of their reward is the chance to spend much of a week with Kenseth's team.
They attended a test session at Rockingham, N.C. with Kenseth, toured the Roush Fenway shop in Concord, N.C. with Blickensderfer and will get a taste of all activities at Pocono Raceway, from preparing the car on Friday to being with the team behind pit road on Sunday. "It's my first (NASCAR) race, so to be in the pits at Pocono will be really cool," said Dwyer, who helped replace a front coil spring and adjust the exhaust system on Friday. Ludwig, who worked on body aerodynamics Friday, expressed surprise at the level of hands-on experience being offered. "Actually being able to sit down and talk to the (crew) guys has been great," he said. "They're really down-to-earth. They've been teaching us about what's going on - why they're making certain adjustments." Blickensderfer tried to give the students as much hands-on experience as he could.
"There aren't too many 17-18-year-old kids who can say they got to hang out with Matt Kenseth and his crew," Blickensderfer. "We'll at least let them see everything we're doing and, if we can give them an opportunity to work on the car, it will be a memory that should last a while for them."
Ludwig and Dwyer attend Fairbault High School, a public high school about 40 miles south of Minneapolis. Under tutelage of instructor Mark Lessman, Fairbault has emerged a perennial skills competition contender, winning. two national titles (2003, 2009) and 13 of the last 16 state championships.
"It gets in your blood," says Lessman, who has taught auto mechanics at Fairbault for 25 years. "The one thing I really like is giving the kids scholarship money for school. This is a good avenue for them to help pay for their education."
To win the title, Ludwig and Dwyer needed to correctly diagnose and repair a car with numerous malfunctions, including the starter, flow sensor, air conditioning system, power windows and lights. The winners got all the bugs out in 42 minutes, 51 seconds and were one of four state champions to complete the test without demerits.
All entrants completed an on-line exam with the highest scorers advancing to their state's hands-on competition. That state's champion competed in the national finals in Dearborn, Mich., with results of a 100-question written exam and the hands-on competition combined to determine the national champion.
All told, $10.7 million in scholarships were offered through the program. The top-10 national finalists received full and partial scholarships from some of the leading automotive technology institutions in the country. In addition, the high schools of the top 15 teams earned a Ford Edge, Taurus or Fusion for training purposes in their automotive technology departments.The top-15 teams in the 2009 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals:
1. Minnesota (Justin Dwyer, Matthew Ludwig) Faribault High School, Faribault, Minn., instructed by Mark Lessman;
2. Colorado (Charles Duran, Dylan Keyes) Doherty High School, Colorado Springs, instructed by Brad Wheaton;
3. Alabama (Zach Evans, Jared Hudson) Albert P Brewer High School, Somerville, Ala., instructed by Robert Bryson;
4. Texas (Juan Correa, Andrew McConnell) Birdville Career Center, Halton City, Texas, instructed by Olin R. Harrington;
5. California (Eric Reed, Doug Rinnell) San Luis Obispo High School, San Luis Obispo, Calif., instructed by Jeff Lehmkuhl;
6. New York (Mike Palladino, Andrew Matthys) Wayne Tech & Career Center, Williamson, N.Y., instructed by Chet Kuhn;
7. Kansas (Joseph Vanderputten, Dillon Percival) Kaw Area Tech School, Topeka, Kansas, instructed by Robert Oswald;
8. Indiana (Jarrett Coberly, Nicholas Vogler) Pike Central High School, Petersburg, Ind., instructed by Buddy Lee;
9. Arkansas (Brandon & Nolan Hildalgo - twin brothers) Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville, Ark., instructed by Shawn Poindexte;
10. Iowa (Cody Gudenkauf, Michael Hermsen) West Delaware High School Manchester, Iowa, instructed by Jason Guyer;
11. Kentucky (Jesse Bardis, Austin White) Shelby Co Area Tech Center, Shelbyville, Ky., instructed by Bruce Edwards;
12. Wisconsin (Kieron Kohlmann, Jonathan Ramczyk) Washington Park High School, Racine, Wis., instructed by David Dixon;
13. Oklahoma (Jeffrey Dill, Jack Gibson) Eastern Oklahoma Co Tech Center, Choctaw, Okla., instructed by Jim LaFevers;
14. Hawaii (Chester Lee Coloma, Edler Espiritu) Maui High School, Kahului, Hawaii. instructed by Shannon Rowe;
15. Wyoming (Alfred Hefenieder, Jesse Hernandez) Worland High School, Worland, Wy., instructed by Mike Sapp.
(USA Today)(8-2-2009)

New sponsor for Kenseth to be announced? UPDATE: hearing that Roush Fenway Racing will announce sometime this week that Crown Royal will sponsor the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth for approximately 18 races in 2010, replacing DeWalt. The other 18 races will probably be 2-3 other sponsors.(7-27-2009)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announced Tuesday that Diageo, parent company of Crown Royal, has renewed its multi-year sponsorship. Crown Royal will serve as the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth and the #17 Sprint Cup team at 18 Cup events in 2010.
"I'm excited about teaming up with Crown Royal," said Kenseth, one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to win the Sprint Cup rookie of the year award, a Sprint Cup Championship and the Daytona 500. "I worked with Diageo's Smirnoff ICE brand back in 2003 and we developed a great relationship. They were a part of our championship season and we were able to take part in a lot of really cool promotions and events to promote messages associated with responsible drinking. I'm really looking forward to representing Crown Royal and continuing that great work." Diageo has been a partner of Roush Fenway Racing dating back to 2003 where Kenseth was first paired with the Smirnoff Ice Brand. In 2005, Crown Royal entered the sport as sponsor of the #97 team [Kurt Busch] and in 2006 became sponsor of Jamie McMurray and the #26 team. "We will miss Jamie (McMurray) as he has been an amazing partner both on and off the track taking our 'Be a champion. Drink Responsibly,' campaign to new heights. We were lucky to have him as part of our team and whatever sponsor aligns with him will have a great person working on their behalf. We wish him well," said Dan Sanborn, Sr. Director, Corporate Relations for Diageo. "We are pleased that we found a suitable home within Roush Fenway Racing for one of the greatest brands in the world," said Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith. "With the conclusion of the contract arrangement with Crown Royal, Roush Fenway Racing's Sprint Cup driver lineup will see #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards and #6-David Ragan joining Kenseth to round out our four approved entries. We are still hoping to be able to transfer the #26 team, intact, to Yates Racing in order to keep everyone employed and racing within the Ford community." For additional information on the remaining sales opportunities with the #17 contact Robin Johnson at rjohnson@roushfenway.com or call 704.720.4645.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-28-2009)

DeWalt will not return to the #17 team in 2010 UPDATE new sponsor?: Roush Fenway Racing was informed today that DeWalt Power Tools will not renew its sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the #17 team for the 2010 NASCAR season. "We would like to thank DeWalt for serving as a great partner for the past 10 years," said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. "During that time we have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well as with Matt on the race track. They will always be remembered and honored as the sponsor of Jack Roush's first Sprint Cup Championship team. Despite this success - in the face of the significant world-wide economic decline in the construction industry - DeWalt's decision to not return is not a great surprise to us. Fortunately, we have several great companies interested in taking over and we expect to begin finalizing those sponsorship arrangements in the very near future. All of us at Roush Fenway Racing remain committed to keeping the #17 DeWalt car running up front, winning races and to put them in a position to contend for a second championship this season."(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-23-2009)UPDATE: hearing that Roush Fenway Racing will announce sometime this week that Crown Royal will sponsor the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth for approximately 18 races in 2010, replacing DeWalt. The other 18 races will probably be 2-3 other sponsors.(7-27-2009)

Roush's Smith talks about 2010 plans: Sunday on "The SIRIUS NASCAR Radio Pre-Race Show", SIRIUS XM's Claire B. Lang spoke with Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith about the possible changes to the team's roster of drivers before next season.Geoff Smith: "If you're asking about our team plans for 2010, we're settled that Carl Edwards and Aflac, Greg Biffle with 3M, and David Ragan with UPS will be staying put and that sponsorship is going to kind of determine whether or not the #17 or the #26 are going to have to be the teams we shut down and move, if we can."Smith: "There are difficulties. You just can't assume that a team can transfer intact just because you want it to. There are sponsors that get to vote as to what organization they're going to sponsor. So we have to work through that, which is what I've been saying. I expect, now that the DeWalt cloud has been removed, we're going to move very quickly to lock in the sponsorship and then that sponsorship will determine [whether] the #17 stays or goes."Host, Claire B. Lang: "Meaning that we could see a past champion, Matt Kenseth, moving?"Smith: "It all depends on the sponsorships. Our objective is to keep both of those teams (the #17 and the #26) in the Ford Motor Company community. We're hoping that we don't have to keep one and then lose one out of the Ford community entirely. So if we can keep them both in the [Ford] community by shuffling the #17 we would do that. Pretty unlikely that Matt Kenseth or the #17 will move at this point."
(SIRIUS NASCAR Radio)(7-27-2009)

Kenseth wins at Slinger: Matt Kenseth held off a hard charging Eric Fransen to capture the win in the 200-lap 30th Annual Miller Lite Nationals presented by SuperSeal Wednesday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, his record-setting fifth overall victory in the prestigious super late model event. Not to be outdone, son Ross Kenseth followed up his father's performance by scoring his first Slinger Speedway win in the 35-lap late model main event.(7-23-2009)

Roush looking for first Chicago win: Chicagoland is one of two tracks on the current Sprint Cup schedule that a Roush Fenway entry has not won at. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the other.(Roush Fenway PR(7-9-2009)

USG on board with Kenseth: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme this weekend at Chicagoland. It will be the second of three races for USG on the car this season. The #17 carried the blue and red earlier this year in Las Vegas and will carry the colors again later this year at Phoenix in November.(Roush Fenway PR), see an image of the car on the #17 Paint Schemes page.(7-8-2009)

Congrats to Matt and Katie Kenseth: Kaylin Nicola Kenseth was born to Matt and Katie on Monday. It is the couple's first child together. Matt has a son, Ross, from a previous relationship.(7-7-2009)

R&L returns to sponsor Kenseth: The #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth will carry the green and gold colors of R+L carriers this weekend at Daytona. The scheme will highlight R+L Global Services. It will be the second of four races this season with R+L Carriers as the primary on the #17 Ford. Kenseth has carried the R+L Carriers paint scheme 11 times since 2006. In his 11 previous starts in the #17 R+L Carriers Ford, Kenseth has achieved 11 top-12, nine top-10, and four top-five finishes. Kenseth will not be racing the same car that he won with in the Daytona 500. That car (RK-631), which was actually Kenseth's third car that weekend, was left behind and can be seen at the Daytona Experience up until next season. The team will bring a brand new chassis (RK-658) to the race this weekend.(RFR). See the scheme on my #17 Team Scheme page.(7-1-2009)

Kenseth looking to Sweep: #17-Matt Kenseth will be looking to complete a rare sweep of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Daytona International Speedway. He will look to join Fireball Roberts (1962), Cale Yarborough (1968), LeeRoy Yarbrough (1969) and Bobby Allison as the only Daytona 500 champions to also win the Independence Day holiday classic in the same year.(DIS)(7-1-2009)

Chris Wimmer holds off Kenseth to win All-Star Challenge: Chris Wimmer not only won Tuesday night's All-Star Challenge, he also earned praise from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Tony Stewart. Wimmer passed Cambridge native and 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth with 11 laps left to clinch victory in the 100-lap super late model race in front of approximately 6,000 fans at Madison International Speedway. "I don't know much about him, but it doesn't't take long to figure out how good he is," Stewart said of Wimmer. "Obviously, you go beat Matt Kenseth like that, it's a big deal.(Wisconsin State Journal)(7-1-2009)

Latest on Roush Fenway Racing having to trim a team: The five-car stable of Roush Fenway Racing (#16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth, #6-David Ragan, #26-Jamie McMurray) must be trimmed to four vehicles for the 2010 season. According to Brian Corcoran, executive vice president of Fenway Sports Group, a decision should take place by August because of sponsorship obligations. An alternative is for one of the drivers (most likely Ragan or McMurray) to switch to Yates Racing, the current home of #96-Bobby Labonte and #98-Paul Menard. Roush has an existing partnership with Yates. "Should be an interesting 45 days,'' Corcoran said. Corcoran also noted that Roush is still in discussions with DeWalt, the primary sponsor of Kenseth's #17 Ford. Currently, DeWalt may not have the funds to continue primary sponsorship of the #17 next season.(Boston Globe)(6-29-2009)

Kenseth to be honored at Daytona: #17-Matt Kenseth's signature, right footprint and hand prints will now have their place in the history of Daytona International Speedway. During the upcoming Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, Kenseth on Friday, July 3 at 11:30am/et will participate in a question and answer session with the race fans inside Daytona 500 Experience motorsports attraction and then proceed outside where he will have his 3x3 cement block with his signature, hand prints and right foot print placed into the Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame. Kenseth, the winner of the 51st running of the Daytona 500 earlier this year, put his right foot, autograph and handprints into the cement during his Champion's Breakfast car induction ceremonies. Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig and Daytona 500 Experience General Manager Kim Isemann will assist Kenseth in placing the block into Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame, which is located just outside the "Official Attraction of NASCAR." Winning drivers of the Daytona 500 since 1996, the first year of operation for Daytona 500 Experience, have their hands, right foot and signature immortalized in cement in the Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame. Tickets for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola on Saturday night, July 4 start at $40. Tickets are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(6-29-2009)

What's up with Roush's five teams? Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith on the team cutting from five teams to four after this season (as mandated by NASCAR to meet its four-car limit): "We're still messing with the sponsorship pieces,'' Smith said. "We're still not sure how it's going to lay out. We thought we'd be done by now but we're not.'' One of the teams will move to Yates next year, Smith said. Smith also was asked about the status of signing Jamie McMurray to a contract extension: "Jamie wants to stay. We'd like him to stay. We're hoping we can have sponsorship around Jamie before he has to decide how much longer he can wait. We've been working together. Hopefully we'll have that worked out pretty quickly before he has to turn his attention to the marketplace.''(Virginia Pilot)(6-22-2009)

Danica to Roush? Danica Patrick will be in a Jack Roush NASCAR Ford next season, bank on it. Well, don't bet the ranch, but there is a growing sense that that is the momentum on the issue, if the sexy Indy-car star does make the leap into stock car racing, as she has hinted. And in the NASCAR garage here at Infineon Raceway Roush himself pondered the Danica option Friday. Patrick herself has been talking around the NASCAR possibility for several weeks now but insists she won't be making any announcement of where she'll be racing next season until this fall [after the IRL's finale in Oct]. Last weekend Geoff Smith, head of Roush Fenway Racing, talked about the Danica Patrick option. What does Roush himself think about her as NASCAR stocker? "I don't know enough about her to know how much time she'd have to spend in the Nationwide series or Truck series," Roush said. "I'd say, as a minimum, two years in the Nationwide series would be required...and at the same time she could run six or seven Cup races, to maintain her rookie status. It just depends on how badly she wants it," Roush says of any Patrick move into NASCAR. Patrick has some big advantages, Roush points out: "I don't know of any problems with Danica Patrick. If a female is going to make it in NASCAR in the foreseeable future, it will be Danica Patrick.(mikemulhern.net)(6-20-2009)

Sponsor search for 2010: We've been hearing for months that sponsors, including those at top teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, won't fully commit past this season. Team owner Rick Hendrick made that clearer on Sunday when he indicated that Kellogg's and Carquest may not return in their full capacity in 2010. "Our sponsors are coming back," Hendrick said after Martin won at Michigan. "We don't know to what extent. That's the question. As you go along with this economy companies are taking longer to get their budgets in line. They're not a year out, or not even eight months like they have been in the past. We're in good shape. We have a lot of sponsors inside our company that we're talking about, you know, splitting up the car. So look for the guys that are on it to be back, but there will probably be someone new along there with them." That not only goes for the #5, but the #24 of Jeff Gordon and #88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr. also could have more partners next season. Jimmie Johnson and Lowe's appear solid on the #48. The same sort of restructuring is going on at other organizations such as Roush, which is trying to find multiple partners to lessen the load of DeWalt [of #17 Matt Kenseth].(ESPN Insider)(6-18-2009)

Carhartt returns to the #17: The #17 Ford Fusion of Matt Kenseth will again carry Carhartt paint scheme this weekend at Michigan. Kenseth took the checkered flag at California in the last Carhartt race. Carhartt will serve as the primary two more times this season at New Hampshire in Sept. and Charlotte in Oct.(RFR), see images of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(6-10-2009)

Kenseth's expecting: #17-Matt Kenseth and his wife, Katie, are due to have a baby soon, Kenseth said Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The child will be the first for the couple, though Kenseth has a son from a previous relationship. Matt Kenseth said the baby is due in about a month and a half. "It's been an exciting time in our life," Kenseth said. "Obviously, it's going to be an exciting time in our life. It's going to be a lot different. [Son] Ross is going to be 16 on Monday, and we'll have a baby in about a month and a half, so that's going to be interesting." Kenseth said he didn't know if the child would be a boy or a girl.(SceneDaily)(5-22-2009)

R+L Carriers on the #17: The #17 Ford will carry the green and gold colors of R+L carriers this weekend for the Coke 600. It will be the first of four races this season with R+L Carriers as the primary on the #17 Ford. Kenseth has carried the R+L Carriers paint scheme 10 times since 2006.(Roush Feneway PR), see an image of the car on my #17 Team Schemes Page.(5-20-2009)

Roush Fenway Racing increases pledge to be more sustainable: It's been 40 years since Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day and on this day of ecological awareness, Roush Fenway Racing is upping their pledge to promote more sustainable operations and better environmental management. Always a leader in the sport of NASCAR on and off track, Roush Fenway has been working with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to reinforce its position as a leader in environmental stewardship in the industry.
Through the team's current efforts, they recycle almost 96% of every race car. In 2008, the team recycled over 66 tons of waste
(plastic, paper and metal); reduced the overall amount of waste produced by more than 11 tons; reduced storm water run off by 1.51M gallons; and saved 2.10M gallons of water by not using potable water for irrigation.
As a next step, Roush Fenway Racing pledges to meet or exceed its corporate environmental target of an overall 10% improvement in indoor air quality; reduction of water consumption; increase in waste reduction and recycling; and improvement in energy usage over the next 18 months. The team has commissioned an independent energy audit through Electricities and the Carolina Consulting Group in cooperation with the City of Concord (N.C.) to further identify opportunities to reduce its power consumption. These efforts are applauded by the NRDC.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-22-2009)

Kenseth takes fan on test drive: Chuck Fountain, of Plymouth, Minn., got the test drive of his life Tuesday when reigning Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth took him for a ride around his hometown in a 2010 Ford Fusion and 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Fountain earned the visit from Kenseth after his name was drawn as part of Ford Racing's yearlong "We Race. You Win." national on-line sweepstakes. Each time a Ford driver wins a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points event this season, one lucky fan and a guest will win an all-expenses paid trip to Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway from Nov. 20-22. During the race weekend, one of those fans will win the grand prize of a 2010 Ford Fusion. Kenseth's visit and test drive was a one-time only event, and was a bonus Fountain appreciated. "It's been an experience I'll never forget. I feel very fortunate," said Fountain. "Getting that first-hand experience really is what it's all about. You can read an article about the Fusion in a magazine or on the Internet, but having that experience and hearing it from the experts, that's really interesting. I know driving down here on (Route) 169, Matt was showing on the Fusion how the blind spot warning indicator on the side mirrors works. I had never seen that before. That was fascinating. He knows that car. He's got one on order, for crying out loud."(Ford Racing Site)(4-17-2009)

Pit road shakeups for Roush? Could there be a few shakeups in the pit crews at Roush Fenway Racing? Officials haven't said anything, but co-owner Jack Roush spent a lot of time in meetings this past week trying to figure out why his teams are having so much trouble on pit road. That usually means changes for the man known as "Cat in the Hat." Carl Edwards went from first to 11th after a crucial mistake on his final pit stop with about 30 laps remaining in Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway. Greg Biffle believes pit road mistakes, at least one by him, has cost him a shot at two wins this season. Even Matt Kenseth had problems at Texas. He was second coming onto pit road on lap 252, but left in 15th after a lug nut problem on the right rear tire. Nobody is publicly blaming anybody as Kyle Busch did in a Nationwide Series race last month when a pit road mistake cost him a victory. But there are concerns.(ESPN Insider)(4-10-2009)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards said small changes made this week to his Sprint Cup pit crew were designed to help his #99 team be able to compete for the Cup title this year. Edwards said Friday at Nashville Superspeedway that one crew member was replaced, and a team spokesman said it was front tire changer Corey Quick.(Scene Daily)(4-11-2009)

Blickensderfer makes surprise appearance to support Dad: Macon Meridian coach Jack Blickensderfer wishes he hadn't been so hard on his son, Drew, growing up. Drew Blickensderfer wouldn't have had it any other way. "He never let me win at anything," the younger Blickensderfer said. "I can remember playing basketball against him on the driveway as a kid, and he would block every one of my shots. He was hardcore when I was on the baseball diamond and he was hardcore when I wrestled. He was just trying to instill that competitive desire in me." That competitive desire has paid off for Drew Blickensderfer three times in the last three months. In mid-December, he was named crew chief for #17-Matt Kenseth's NASCAR Sprint Cup team. And in February, he won his debut race with Kenseth - the Daytona 500. A week later, in California, Kenseth won again. Father and son shared another special moment Friday. Drew Blickensderfer surprised his dad by flying in from Charlotte, N.C., to watch Meridian's 51-47 Class 1A state semifinal victory over Annawan.
Joining the younger Blickensderfer were his brother Matt, who drove in from Cincinnati, and two aunts who traveled from Texas and Ohio.(see full story at the Peoria Journal Star), on Saturday night Macon Meridian won the Class 1A boys basketball state title.(3-15-2009)

Kenseth battles ill-handling car: #17-Matt Kenseth battled and ill-handling race car for the majority of Sundays 325-lap Kobalt Tools 500, but managed a 12th-place finish in the fourth race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite never finding adequate grip on the long run, and having to battle their way back onto the lead lap, Kenseth and the #17 DeWalt Ford Team were poised for a top-10 finish before running short on fuel with five laps to go in the race.(RFR PR)(3-9-2009)

Roush Fenway looking for sponsors: Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith should only be negotiating to renew the one NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship he has open - the #17 Ford and DeWalt - for 2010. But Smith's organization is working on helping nearly all of its Cup sponsors (#26-Crown Royal, #16-3M and #99-Aflac) find other companies willing to pony up the money to buy some races for 2010 and beyond even though they have contracts obligating them for the entire season. Smith said the companies have requested help, and it's imperative in these economic times that the organization find more sponsors willing to share some of the costs. DeWalt, whose contract is up after the 2009 season, has also indicated it wants a partner. The only sponsor that has not requested a partner is UPS [for #6 David Ragan]. A new sponsor could be on one of those cars by the end of 2009 if there is a commitment for future years, Smith said.
Even though Roush Fenway can have only four Cup teams next year, it also is responsible for sponsorship for Yates Racing, so it is continuing to court companies to sponsor Cup teams. On an initial call, Smith said the organization will offer anything open in its portfolio. The one thing his company won't do is to stagger sponsorships on a car because the organization has to commit to a salary for the driver and needs the sponsorship to back it up. Smith said that car owners must realize that they need to spend money on sales. He said he has "a whole team" making cold calls about sponsorship.(SceneDaily)(3-9-2009)

Kenseth goes for a record NO GO: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. He became just the fourth driver to win the Daytona 500 AND then the next race of the season:
Richard Petty, (1973) Daytona & Richmond, 23rd at Rockingham in 3rd race
Cale Yarborough, (1977) Daytona & Richmond, 6th at Rockingham
Jeff Gordon (1997), Daytona & Rockingham, 4th at RichmondAlso Kenseth is the fifth driver to win the first two races of the season
Marvin Panch (1957), Lancaster & Concord, 3rd at Titusville
Bob Welborn (1959), Fayetteville & Daytona Qual Race [points race then], 41st Daytona 500, started from pole
David Pearson (1976), Riverside & Daytona 500, 29th at Rockingham
Jeff Gordon (1997), Daytona & Rockingham, 4th at Richmond
no driver has won the first three races of the season and no driver has won the next two races after the Daytona 500. The last driver to win three races in a row was Jimmie Johnson in 2007 when he won four in a row at Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix late in the season and during the Chase.SPONSORS? and no driver has won three straight races at all in the modern ear [1972-present, many teams didn't have sponsors like they do now before then] with three DIFFERENT sponsors: DeWalt at Daytona, Carhartt at Auto Club and USG at Las Vegas. See the list of drivers who have won 3 or more races in a row on my All-Time/Active Wins page.(2-26/28-2009)UPDATE: #17-Kenseth lost an engine early in the race and finished 43rd at Las vegas.(3-1-2009)

Roush could tie record: Even if #17-Matt Kenseth fails to win Sunday, his four Roush Fenway Racing teammates could help match another Cup Series record. Only two owners / teams have won the first three races of a season. Owner Peter DePaolo's team won the first three races of 1957 (two wins by Marvin Panch, one by Fireball Roberts) and Petty Enterprises won the first three races in 1963 (two wins by Jim Paschal, one by Richard Petty).(NASCAR.com)(2-28-2009)

Kenseth's win means 2nd race fan headed to Homestead: Matt Kenseth's back-to-back season-opening wins in his #17 Ford makes for back-to-back winners in Ford's "We Race. You Win" national sweepstakes. For the second week in a row, a lucky fan will be notified this week about their trip to Ford Championship Weekend. The sweepstakes, announced January 22, awards one fan every time a Ford NASCAR Sprint Cup driver wins a points race this year. That lucky fan and a guest will win an all-expenses paid trip to Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. During the race weekend, one of those fans then will be selected as the grand prizewinner of a 2010 Ford Fusion. Kenseth's first career Daytona 500 victory automatically created the contest's first winner. His win in Fontana enables a second fan to win a trip to Ford Championship Weekend in Homestead, FL (Ford PR). More information about the contest on my Racing Contests page.(2-23-2009)

Teams looking for sponsors: The most important part of Sunday's Auto Club 500 was not what happened on the track but what took place in the garage, the suites and elsewhere. Some teams had prospective sponsors at Auto Club Speedway as they look to find additional funding. Teams looking for sponsors range from Roush Fenway Racing to Richard Petty Motorsports to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and others. Richard Petty Motorsports is trying to find sponsorship for #44-AJ Allmendinger beyond the nine races it has for him this season. De Cordell, chief sales and marketing officer, says the team also is looking for a primary sponsor for about six races on #43-Reed Sorenson's car and a major associate sponsor for #9-Kasey Kahne. Cordell said the team had two potential sponsors at Sunday's race, including one that came about after RPM's Daytona 500 performance where it placed three of its four cars in the top 10.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing continues to search for sponsorship for #8-Aric Almirola and #1-Martin Truex Jr. Steve Lauletta, team president, says Almirola has sponsorship for about 10 races. Lauletta says Truex needs to add a sponsor for about six races. Lauletta said the team received two calls about prospective sponsors this week after the Daytona 500 where Truex won the pole, and had a couple of potential sponsors at the race. The team also is planning to announce a sponsorship agreement next week between its NASCAR teams and car owner Chip Ganassi's IndyCar program. Lauletta estimates the team worked on that deal for 14 months.
Roush Fenway Racing also is looking for future sponsorship and benefited from Matt Kenseth's victory at Daytona. While the organization has primary sponsors for all five cars, each of those sponsors are open to joining other companies on the cars, says Robin Johnson, executive vice president, business development for Roush Fenway Racing.(Roanoke Time)(2-23-2009)

Kenseth wins at California: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway for his second win in a row, his third at Fontana, and the 18th of his career. He is the first driver to win the season's opening two races since Jeff Gordon in 1997.
#24-Gordon was second followed by #18-Busch, #16-Biffle, #2-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #99-Edwards, #14-Stewart, #48-Johnson, and #83-Vickers. #88-Earnhardt, Jr. blew an engine and finished 39th. #29-Harvick also blew and engine and finished 38th, the first time he was not running at the end of a race in 82 races. There were 19 lead changes among 11 drivers and 5 caution flags for 43 laps. Four of the cautions were caused by light rain showers.
See race results, laps led and more on my California Race Results page.
See drivers and owners points standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Daytona page.(2-22-2009)

Kesenth's spotter has permanent Daytona 500 memory: While Matt Kenseth's spotter has already gotten a tattoo to honor the Roush Fenway Racing team's victory in last weekend's Daytona 500, don't expect the driver to follow suit. While Kenseth spent the past week touring various cities as part of a post-victory media blitz, Mike Calinoff decided to mark the occasion in a different way - and one that Kenseth actually unintentionally encouraged. Calinoff, who left Kenseth's team a few years ago but returned as Kenseth's spotter this season, celebrated the group's 2003 championship in the same way. Calinoff said that the $250, multicolored tattoo took two hours and was painful to get put on, but that he is glad that he did it. "It was worth it," he said. "I'd do it again tomorrow." Calinoff admits that he could be the only spotter commemorating a big win in this way, but he doesn't regret it at all.(Scene Daily)(2-21-2009)

Kenseth Enjoys Victory Tour Through San Francisco: Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth learned how to crack a Dungeness crab, enjoyed world-class chocolates and was given a magnum of Sonoma Valley wine on Wednesday in San Francisco.
Kenseth, who won NASCAR's Great American Race on Sunday, celebrated his historic win with a Victory Tour Through the Streets of San Francisco on-board a motorized cable car, complete with a California Highway Patrol escort. Kenseth, and his wife Katie, enjoyed a first-class tour of San Francisco, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting legendary Fisherman's Grotto No. 9 at Fisherman's Wharf. Kenseth learned how to cook and crack a Dungeness crab under the guidance of co-owner Anthony Geraldi. The tour continued to Ghirardelli Square where the Kenseths received a large basket of gourmet chocolates and were treated to ice cream sundaes. The cable car ride culminated at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, where Kenseth greeted race fans and the Northern California media. Giants Vice President Russ Stanley presented Kenseth with an official team jersey, complete with Kenseth's name and car number on the back. Kenseth was also surprised at the press conference by a visit from Tony Moll, a Sonoma native who is an offensive lineman on Kenseth's favorite NFL team, the Green Bay Packers. Raceway President Steve Page also presented Kenseth with a commemorative magnum of Sonoma Valley wine. "This was a really fun day and I'm amazed at all of the fans out here," said Kenseth. "I got to see a lot of San Francisco from the front of that cable car and experience a little of everything, so it was great." The appearance also marked the Official Countdown to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Infineon Raceway, June 19-21 (Father's Day weekend). Race day is just 124 days away. Tickets are now available for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Be sure to call 800-870-RACE or visit infineonraceway.com.(Infineon Raceway)(2-19-2009)

R&L Carriers to sponsor Kenseth for four races: R&L Carriers is an associate sponsor for #17-Matt Kenseth. For a total of four races this season (May 24-Charlotte, July 4-Daytona, Sept. 6-Atlanta and Oct. 11-California), Kenseth's Ford will prominently display the green and yellow colors of R&L as well as the company's logo, according to Donald R. DeLuca, vice president and general counsel for R&L. For the remainder of the Sprint Cup season, R&L Carriers brand will be located on either the rear quarter panel or on the TV panel. This is the final year of a three-year contract R&L has with Kenseth.(Wilmington News Journal), see images of the #17 Team Schemes page for the image of the scheme.(2-17-2009)

Kenseth's Winning #17 Inducted Into Daytona 500 Experience: The victory celebration of the 51st annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race continued Monday morning as Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford was inducted into the Daytona 500 Experience - the Official Attraction of NASCAR -during the annual ConAgra Champion's Breakfast. Kenseth, owner Jack Roush and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer participated in a fan forum inside the attraction and received their winning Daytona 500 leather jackets from Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig. The three were joined by the rest of the #17 Roush Fenway Racing crew to continue the tradition of signing the car, which will be on display inside the attraction until the 52nd annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 14, 2010. "To win the 500 is really cool," said Kenseth, who also unveiled the logo for next year's Daytona 500 to the media attending the event. "It's pretty cool that the 17 group and team that Jack and Robbie (Reiser, former crew chief, current GM of Roush Fenway Racing) assembled was able to win that first championship and first Daytona 500."
"The first 14 times that I came to Daytona for road racing I always took a trophy home - every time," said Roush, referring to his Rolex 24 success. "As we started coming with the Cup cars and it didn't happen right away, I kind of put it out of my mind and decided that I was snake-bit - that I had already had more success than I deserved and I would be denied this one." Not wanting to jinx his chances of a victory, Kenseth was not prepared for this week's whirlwind media tour in New York City and California. He had to fly back home after last night's race to pack before returning to Daytona for this morning's celebration. "I wasn't prepared for it kind of on purpose," Kenseth said. "One year I was thinking, 'They take you all these places, don't want you to go home afterwards, you're gone all week - so I'll bring some extra clothes.' That was my worst 500 I think we've ever had. "I told (wife) Katie if it happens and we win, I'll worry about it then. So I had to worry about it last night. They're not going to let us go home until after California, so I needed to go home for a few hours."
Among the media duties Kenseth will perform this week include appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday night and Live with Regis and Kelly on Tuesday morning. "As a kid, I always watched Letterman with my dad," Kenseth said. "Of any TV show I could ever be on, I've always wanted to be on Letterman. The first two times I've been on there we've done the Top 10 list and I've never got to meet him or talk to him. This time I think I get to sit down and talk to him so I'm looking forward to that."(DIS PR)(2-16-2009)

Kenseth wins the Daytona 500: #17-Matt Kenseth won the 2009 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, his first Daytona 500 win and Roush Fenway Racing's first Daytona 500. Kenseth started 39, the farthest back a driver has ever started and won at Daytona. The race was called due to rain after 152 [of 200] laps. The win is Kenseth's 17th of his career. #29-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #44-Allmendinger, #33-Bowyer, #19-Sadler, #6-Ragan, #55-Waltrip, #14-Stewart, #43-Sorenson and #2-Busch. Pole sitter 31-Truex Jr. finished 11th. 2008 Cup Champion, #48-Johnson finished 31st. Last years Daytona 500 winner, #39-Newman, was never a factor and finished 36th. #18-Busch led the most laps with 88, was caught up in the 'big one' and finished 41st. There were 8 cautions for 36 laps and 10 drivers led a lap with 11 lead changes. The race is scheduled to re-air on SPEED, Thursday, February at 12:00pm/et.
See race results, laps led and more on my Daytona Race Results page.(2-15-2009)

Roush Fenway Racing Pledges 'Green': With the country under new leadership and the start of a new race season upon us, Roush Fenway Racing announces their pledge to sustainability and environmental protection. Always a leader in the sport of NASCAR on and off track, Roush Fenway Racing will continue current environmental initiatives and look into new initiatives to "go green" in 2009. There are many aspects of the sport which will not change in the immediate future when it comes to environmental impact. However, the environment is a topic that's important to many of our sponsor partners as well as the world, so in an effort to be good stewards of the planet, Roush Fenway Racing continues to seek ways to be environmentally conscious from materials in their daily operations, to the expansion and construction of facilities. Roush Fenway Racing currently recycles oil, solvent, steel, tires, aluminum, paper and plastic bottles and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Ian Prince, Roush Fenway's LEED certified person on staff, oversees the operations of Roush Fenway's 25-acre campus with three buildings totaling over 190,000 Sq. ft. All the building have innovated LEED building design features including (but not limited to) solar shades on southern exposure to reduce solar heat gain and glare, reducing the amount of artificial building cooling required; interior lighting controlled by individual occupancy and photoelectric sensors to reduce electrical usage; motion activated plumbing fixtures to reduce potable water use; and rain and storm water run off captured and contained for landscape irrigation reducing the need for potable water. As a point of interest, Roush Fenway uses no city water they have their own wells and storm water reclamation. In addition, Roush Fenway has proposed an emission reduction program to LED retrofit the shop Metal Halide lighting resulting in a 530 Megawatt savings of electricity each year. The use of Building Integrated
Photovoltaic laminates that will produce 13,710kWh per year of electricity for 20 years to be sold back to the utilities companies is also being proposed. But that's not where the effort ends. Roush Fenway Racing Sprint Cup standouts Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle
are purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (REC's) as part of their commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(1-25-2009)

2008 News

2008 Sponsor Schedule, DeWalt is the sponsor unless noted:

Races [1] that Disk Network is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Bristol - March 16

Races [4] that DeWalt NANO is scheduled to be the primary sponsor::
Phoenix [4/12];
Richmond [5/3];
Darlington [5/10];
All-Star Race [5/17];
supposedly this scheme has been dropped and will not run at the two final races
Bristol [8/23];
Richmond [9/6]

New Crew Chief for Kenseth? UPDATE: Nationwide Series pit boss Drew Blickensderfer has been promoted to head the team. Chip Bolin, who held the position last year, will go back to work as an engineer at Roush Fenway Racing. Although Blickensderfer started 2008 as crew chief for Roush's #17 Nationwide Series team, he swapped places with Pierre Kuettel and joined Carl Edwards' #60 team. The pair went on to win seven of the final 19 races.(FoxSports)(12-16-2008)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has named Drew Blickensderfer crew chief for Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Sprint Cup team for the upcoming 2009 season. "We are really looking forward to Drew coming on board with the #17 DeWalt team," said Kenseth. "Drew brings a great work ethic and high level of enthusiasm to our team. He has been waiting for the opportunity to become a crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series and I know he'll make the most of it. I had the chance to work with Drew for a couple of years in the Nationwide Series and he is one of the hardest working guys in the garage. He has a passion for the sport, and I know he will be a great addition to our #17 team." Blickensderfer served the past three seasons as a crew chief in Roush Fenway's highly successful Nationwide Series program. He helped guide Danny O'Quinn to a Raybestos Rookie title in 2006, before teaming with Kenseth in the Nationwide Series for the next year and a half. The duo earned three victories in the series, before Blickensderfer moved over to Carl Edwards' #60 team midway through the 2008 season. There, he helped guide the Edwards' team to seven wins in their last 19 races and a second-place finish in the Nationwide Series point standings. With the addition of Blickensderfer, Chip Bolin - who served as the crew chief on the #17 Sprint Cup team in 2008 - will return to his previous post as team engineer, where he was instrumental in helping guide the team to a Cup championship in 2003. "Chip has been one of the biggest assets to this team since the beginning," said Kenseth. "Both as an engineer and crew chief, he has been instrumental in our championship run in 2003 and our making the Chase every year since. We are looking forward to adding Drew to the mix and everyone on this #17 DeWalt team is committed to working together and to running up front next season."(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(12-17-2008)

Laid off Roush Fenway crewman sues team: A former Roush Fenway Racing fabricator and over-the-wall crew member is suing the team for money he alleges he is owed for being laid off prior to the completion of his three-year contract. Nick Bailey, signed a three-year deal in October 2006 to run through the 2009 season, according to the complaint and portions of his contract filed recently in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. He initially worked in the Truck shop at Roush as well as on the pit crew for the #16 Nationwide team. He was then transferred to Roush's ARCA team in April 2008. At the time he was laid off Nov. 10 , 2008, his base salary was $1,050 per week, according to the complaint. He also was eligible for bonuses depending on the performance of the team and the pit crew. Bailey is asking for $63,000 - his salary from Nov. 10, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009 - and for whatever bonuses it is determined he deserves. Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith confirmed that Bailey had been laid off as part of a reduction in the company work force but declined further comment.(SceneDaily)(12-12-2008)

No major layoffs at Roush: Jack [ROush] said he would have to "displace" half a dozen employees involved with his test program as a result of NASCAR banning testing at its sanctioned tracks in 2009. But his core staff -- those involved with his Sprint Cup and Nationwide team operations at his race shop in Concord, N.C. -- "will remain intact," he said.(Detroit Free Press)(11-21-2008)

Kenseth re-signs with Roush Fenway: Roush Fenway Racing announced that it has re-signed 2003 Sprint Cup Champion Matt Kenseth to a multi-year contract. Kenseth has been with Roush Fenway since 1998 and has claimed 16 Sprint Cup Series wins and 24 Nationwide Series wins in addition to Roush Fenway's first Sprint Cup championship. "It's been a great 11 years at Roush Fenway Racing," said Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford. "I appreciate everything Jack and DeWalt have done for me over the years. We've had a lot of success together including a championship and I'm really proud of that. I'm looking forward to the next few years and winning another championship with Roush Fenway." Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush was elated with the news stating, "Matt Kenseth is a champion in every sense of the word and John Henry and I are proud to have him in our stable of drivers. Over the last 11 years Matt has been a leader in our organization and a voracious competitor on track, and to know that he will continue on in that role with Roush Fenway is gratifying."(Roush Fenway Racing PR), no terms or exact length was announced, Kenseth was signed thru 2010.(11-20-2008)

Roush: No plans to build test track: Back in the day, NASCAR team owner Jack Roush had contemplated building his own test track. On Saturday, the day after NASCAR had announced that it was banning all testing on the tracks it sanctions, Roush was asked if he had revived the idea. "I have neither the money nor the inclination to build a test track," Roush said. Roush also said he has no intention of circumventing NASCAR's ban. "If we could organize a situation where all the established teams could hold hands and resolve not to test outside of the NASCAR mandated or approved testing, not go to the skid pads, not go to Canada, not go to Pikes Peak or any of the places they are checking on," he said, "I'd be happier with that than to skirt around." Roush said, however, that if other teams started skirting, he would be forced to as well.(Kansas City Star)(11-20-2008)

Some spotter changes in 2009: Hearing that Earl Barban [currently at the #38 team] will be back as the spotter for #48 Jimmie Johnson and current spotter, Stevie Reeves will join Yates Racing and Paul Menard [will be the #98 team]. Bob Jeffrey, the spotter for #17 Matt Kenseth will join Stewart-Hass Racing to work with #14-Tony Stewart. Mike Calinoff, who started 2008 with #40-Dario Franchitti at Chip Ganassi Racing before the team shut down and has been spotting for #20-Stewart during The Chase, will return to Roush-Fenway Racing and work with #17-Matt Kenseth. Barban spent two years with Johnson previously and Calinoff was with Kenseth for six seasons, including the Championship season in 2003.(11-15-2008)

Ford re-ups with Roush BUT no support for Trucks: Ford Racing has reinforced the importance of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series to the manufacturer under tough economic times by reaching a five-year deal to remain with Roush Fenway Racing. BUT Ford will pull its financial support in the Craftsman Truck Series beginning next season. Team owner Jack Roush assured that Ford has not pulled support from the Cup program. "Ford has made us a commitment for five years going into the future that we feel is adequate to our needs for the support that comes from manufacturers," Roush said before Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. Roush has been with Ford since he got into NASCAR in 1988. His organization owns five of the eight Cup teams currently funded by the manufacturer and has an alliance with two more at Yates Racing. The single-car team [#21] of the Wood Brothers is the only other one that runs fulltime in NASCAR's premiere series, although Yates plans to expand to three teams [#28,#38 and Paul Menard] in 2009. The withdrawal of financial support in the Truck Series was purely an economical decision. It is the second big hit for that series, which lost Dodge support earlier this year. Unlike Dodge, Ford will continue to provide technical support and engineering. "We remain positive about the performance of our teams and their dedication to the company during these challenging times," said Brian Wolfe, the director of Ford Racing Technology.(ESPN.com)(10-19-2008)

R+L on the #17 at Martinsville: The #17 will sport the green and yellow colors of R+L Carriers this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Team 17 will be unloading chassis RK-574. Matt Kenseth raced this car at both Richmond races this year. Each time, he was relegated to less than stellar finishes due to accidents.(Roush Fenway Racing PR) see an image of the car on my #17 Team Schemes Page.(10-14-2008)

New Hire by Roush Fenway Racing: Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a premier sports marketing agency that specializes in representation, sponsorship sales, event marketing and strategic marketing consulting, announced it has appointed Brian Corcoran as Executive Vice President, Business Development & Motorsports. Corcoran will oversee day-to-day operations for FSG's NASCAR division which includes Roush Fenway Racing and Yates Racing. He is tasked with identifying and developing new sponsor and revenue opportunities for both teams. Corcoran comes to FSG after spending the last six years as Managing Director, Corporate Marketing for NASCAR. He was instrumental in securing Nextel Communications as the entitlement partner of the Nextel Cup Series and Nationwide Insurance as lead sponsor of NASCAR's secondary circuit which is often compared to Triple-A baseball. Corcoran also played key roles in securing new sponsors, including Enterprise, Office Depot, AMD, TISSOT, AutoZone and Domino's Pizza. In February 2007, FSG purchased 50 percent stake in Roush Racing, one of NASCAR's largest and most successful teams, to form Roush Fenway Racing (RFR). The team fields five cars in the Sprint Cup Series and currently has three drivers, Carl Edwards (2nd), Greg Biffle (7th) and Matt Kenseth (10th) in the Chase for the Cup and four drivers in the top 13 in Cup standings with David Ragan currently in 13th place. This merger marked the first time that owners of a professional franchise in one of the four major leagues have partnered with a NASCAR team. Through RFR, FSG also provides marketing and sponsorship services to Yates Racing.(PR)(8-25-2008)

Roush's Smith to retire? Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith is putting plans in place to retire after the 2009 season. "More than likely," Smith said before Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway. "That's what we're building for. We've been systematically elevating the responsibilities of several key people, training and training." Smith runs the business and marketing side of Roush Fenway. He has been instrumental in putting together one of the top sponsorship programs in the garage.
He'll be 63 when his contract expires after next season. "I've done this for a lot of years," Smith said. "I owe my wife time together before we're dead."(ESPN.com)(8-18-2008)

Busch, Kenseth come up short in ASA race at Iowa: All weekend long Tim Schendel was fast around the 7/8-mile Iowa Speedway as he was able to back up those fast times in practice and qualifying by taking the ASA Midwest Tour Rasmussen Group Twin 75's. Schendel took the checkered flag while Jonathan Eilen would hold off Matt Kenseth and Donny Reuvers for second. Kenseth, who was making his first visit Iowa Speedway, was pleased with his third place finish. Kyle Busch flew through the field after starting 11th and took over the top spot on lap 8. Busch would then dominate by pulling away from the rest of the field to the halfway break. At the start of the second half, Busch would lead the first four laps until he fell off the pace and retired with mechanical problems.(ASA Midwest Tour)(7-21-2008)

#17 to carry Celtics decal: In honor of the Boston Celtics 17th NBA title, Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford will carry a special congratulatory decal. The #17 crew will also don pit caps to celebrate the occasion. On Wednesday, June 25, Kenseth along with his Roush Fenway Racing teammates and the Boston Red Sox will celebrate Roush Fenway Day at Fenway Park.(Roush Racing PR)(6-25-2008)

Roush Fenway hopes to have drivers locked in soon for '09: Roush Fenway Racing hopes to soon solidify its current driver lineup in the same positions for 2009, team president Geoff Smith said Sunday at Infineon Raceway. The first item would be locking in #16-Greg Biffle, who said Friday he expects to complete the deal this week. As far as #6-David Ragan, Smith also was optimistic. "We're working through a final contract now with a sponsor, and unless Tony Stewart puts a wheel under us [in his sponsorship quest], it should be over very shortly," Smith said. The team's other three drivers - #99-Carl Edwards, #26-Jamie McMurray and #17-Matt Kenseth - are already signed for next season. Roush Fenway Racing can have five teams in 2009 but will have to cut down to four for the 2010 season.(SceneDaily.com)(6-23-2008)

Three Roush drivers hit milestones at Pocono: #16-Greg Biffle and #26-Jamie McMurray will make their 200th career Cup starts at Pocono. In support of McMurray's 200th Sprint Cup start, the #26 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford Fusion will carry a special "200" decal on the lower hood in this weekend's Pocono 500. And #17-Matt Kenseth will start in his 300th straight Cup race.(6-4-2008)

Kenseth Back in Black: For the second time in 2008, Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford will be painted black with the DEWALT NANO Technology paint scheme. Kenseth will also sport these colors at Darlington, the All-Star race, Bristol and the second Richmond race in 2008. The #17 crew will be unloading car RK-574 this weekend at Richmond, a brand new car.(Roush Racing), see images of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-1-2008)

Dunkin' Donuts teams up with Fenway Sports: As it expands nationally, Dunkin' Donuts is teaming up with a high-powered group of local sports marketers to bring in new customers. Dunkin' now has 5,500 stores, but plans to triple that number over the next two decades, targeting markets like Dallas, Cleveland and Nashville that are outside its Northeast base. The Canton-based chain has hired Fenway Sports Group to help devise a national sports marketing campaign. That could mean rolling out Dunkin' ads featuring sports stars in some of its new markets across the country, said Mark Lev, executive vice president at Fenway Sports Group. The Dunkin' deal is a major coup for FSG, which has been building a broad portfolio of deals ranging from a 50% stake in a top NASCAR race team to consulting deals with a range of companies.(Boston Herald)(4-15-2008)

Kenseth's son racing: Ross Kenseth, Matt's 14-year-old son, plans to race regularly this season in the Big 8 Series for limited late models, beginning Sunday at Rockford (Ill.) Speedway. "I was in La Crosse when he ran up there (last fall), and he did a really good job up there," Matt said. "So we'll see."(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(4-11-2008)

Kenseth set to make 300th start at Phoenix: Matt Kenseth, 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and driver of Roush Fenway Racing's #17 Ford Fusion will make his 300th Sprint Cup Series start this weekend, under the lights, at Phoenix International Speedway. Sporting the black DEWALT NANO Technology paint scheme, Kenseth will reach the impressive milestone this Saturday evening in the Subway Fresh Fit 500. "It's hard to believe I'll be making my 300th start," said Kenseth. "It doesn't seem that long ago when I was racing for the Reiser family in the Busch Series, with no sponsor, just hoping I could have the opportunity to race in this series some day. I've been very fortunate throughout my career. It's pretty cool to have lasted this long in such a competitive series, but I could not have done it without the support of a lot of great people and a great sponsor like DEWALT." Since his 1998 Cup Series debut, Kenseth has accumulated three poles, 16 wins, 80 top-five and 146 top-10 finishes. The Cambridge, Wis., native has logged 113,328.6 miles on NASCAR tracks and led a total of 4,973 laps.(Roush Fenway Racing)(4-8-2008)

Roush Fenway Racing doesn't plan any legal action against MWR: Roush Fenway Racing doesn't plan to take legal action against Michael Waltrip Racing for what it characterized as the theft of a sway bar unless there is evidence that the piece has been duplicated. Team president Geoff Smith said the issue would not have surfaced at all had Toyota general manager Lee White not insinuated that Roush's team of Carl Edwards intentionally cheated at Las Vegas.(see full story at ESPN.com), so lets hope this whole thing is over.(3-30-2008)

MWR had [Roush] part, says it was a mistake UPDATE: Michael Waltrip confirmed Friday afternoon that it was his team that Jack Roush was alluding to when saying a Toyota team had stolen a sway bar from Roush Fenway Racing at Dover last September. "It was a mistake," Waltrip said. "Look at the back of these toolboxes. There are sway bars, there's jack handles, and it wound up in our possession. We called them and said, 'We want to give this back.' "(full story atSceneDaily)MORE: Michael Waltrip acknowledged on Saturday that his team had the sway bar that team owner Jack Roush accused a Toyota team of stealing last season. But Waltrip insisted that it wasn't a theft, that the bar accidentally wound up at his shop after the September race at Dover and that nobody realized it belonged to Roush Fenway Racing until that organization called to inquire about it in January. "Accidents happen, mistakes happen," Waltrip said. "If you look inside this garage area today there's over 70 racing vehicles in here and stuff gets slung everywhere ... I could see why he would be upset. He feels like he was wronged and he's mad about it." Roush said the sway bar was specially designed by Roush Fenway for his cars. He said they were larger than the old bars, unable to fit in the toolbox slot and were put underneath the box instead. Roush said a member of a Toyota team -- which turned out to be David Reutimann's #00 car -- parked next to him at Dover, then walked over and took the piece. "I don't know what makes him tick," Waltrip said of Roush. "But I do know that no one went to his toolbox and swiped his bar." Waltrip said he had no knowledge that the piece was sandblasted to hide its identity and that somebody from his team called a vendor to have it duplicated as Roush alleged. "I don't have knowledge of any of that," he said. "I heard it was painted blue and when we figured out that it wasn't ours then it was set off to the side and eventually returned."(ESPN.com)(3-29-2008)

NASCAR won't intervene in Roush dispute with Toyota team: NASCAR officials say they will not intervene in the dispute between Roush Fenway Racing and an unspecified Toyota team that allegedly took a part from the Ford organization. Team owner Jack Roush is asking NASCAR for "relief" on the issue, but NASCAR Vice President of Competition strongly dismissed that idea on Friday. "If they've got issues with each other or other teams, then they've got to talk to those other teams," Pemberton said. "I didn't take a part or a piece, all right? Nobody in this [NASCAR] trailer took a part or a piece. We know Jack said that, and apparently some other team acknowledged having a part or a piece. Those people need to work their deal out." Roush said a Toyota team took a sway bar home from a September race at Dover last season. If that's true, Pemberton said, "Then shame on a team that has that person working for them. If you've got a guy that takes a part or a piece from another team, then, in my opinion, I wouldn't have a guy like that work for me," he said. Still, that doesn't mean NASCAR is going to do anything about it. "[The teams] have to work together," he said. "We're not going to build walls in here. We're not going to separate everything. We're going to run this garage area just like it's been run. If you have issues, then you've got to work it out."(SceneDaily)(3-29-2008)

Latest on the 'stolen' Roush "proprietary part" UPDATE MWR: Jack Roush said on Friday that a Toyota team stole a sway bar made specifically for Roush Fenway Racing from one of his Sprint Cup teams last season at Dover. "A theft did occur," the co-owner of Roush Fenway said during practice at Martinsville Speedway. "The part was recovered ... We are still considering what if any legal action to seek." One of Roush's options is asking for a restraining order to guarantee the team in question does not duplicate the bar, which has been determined legal by NASCAR, for a competitive advantage. "It's lawyer time," Roush said. Roush made his first comments since he was quoted in ESPN The Magazine as saying a proprietary part was found missing from his inventory and discovered with a Toyota team. He discounted comments made by Jim Aust, the president of Toyota Racing Development, that a valve spring was found during a teardown inspection, identified as belonging to Roush and returned. Roush said the theft occurred in the garage area at Dover in September [2007], where the only Toyota teams in the field belonged to Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull.
Lee White, the general manager of TRD, said his organization launched a full investigation into the allegation when Roush's allegations were published in ESPN The Magazine.
He said a valve spring that did not belong to Toyota ended up at TRD's California location after the California race, that it was reported to NASCAR and returned. Roush said he became aware of the theft in early January when the vendor that produced the product for Roush Fenway was contacted by the Toyota team in question about duplicating the bar.
Roush said he's had several discussions with NASCAR officials about the situation. He was alarmed when Robin Pemberton, the vice president of competition for the series, said disappearing parts are a common occurrence and the teams needed to work it out amongst themselves. Roush said there is something fundamentally wrong if NASCAR doesn't intercede, reminding the governing body has no problem reacting when somebody uses an illegal part -- on purpose or not. Roush, noting he has been in the business 22 years, and said this is the first time he's heard of such a situation. He declined to respond to a question in which Michael Waltrip Racing was insinuated as the Toyota team. "I don't substantiate," he said. Waltrip declined to comment until he heard how the question was posed and the way Roush responded.(see full story at ESPN.com)(3-28-2008)

Two associate sponsors on the #17 at Martinsville: The logo for Southern Air will ride along on the C-post of the #17 DeWalt Ford of Matt Kenseth this weekend. Southern Air is the region's largest mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical commercial and residential contractor company - with over 700 employees they cover Virginia, North
Carolina and West Virginia. Coleman Adams Construction, one of the largest and oldest General Contractor companies in Virginia will ride along on the #17's wings this weekend at Martinsville.(RFR PR)(3-27-2008)

Roush Says Toyota Team Stole "Proprietary Part" UPDATE 2:ESPN the Magazine has an interesting and potentially explosive quote from Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush as part of its 10th Anniversary issue, which is on newsstands this week. Two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the magazine quotes Roush as saying, "We had a proprietary Roush Fenway part go missing from one of my race teams, and we recovered it from a Toyota team. I'm not going to say which team it is, but we are considering legal action, or getting NASCAR involved." If Roush's allegations prove to be true, this could become NASCAR's version of the recent spy scandal that rocked Formula One racing, in which the McLaren-Mercedes team was caught with confidential, proprietary test information belonging to rival Ferrari. We contacted Roush Fenway Racing today in search of further information - including team was involved and the specific part in question -- and we [SIRIUS Speedway w/ Dave Moody] hope to have a statement from them later today.(Motorsports Soapbox)(3-25-2008)UPDATE: Jack Roush, co-owner of Ford-based Roush Fenway Racing, leveled another serious accusation at nemesis Toyota at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- one that took nearly three weeks to surface. No one from either RFR or Toyota was willing to comment on Tuesday, but no one was denying Roush told a reporter from ESPN The Magazine on March 7 that a Toyota team had been in possession of an RFR team part.(ESPN)(3-26-2008)UPDATE 2: Toyota officials on Wednesday identified the Roush Fenway Racing part that owner Jack Roush said was found in a Toyota team's possession during a Sprint Cup post-race teardown as a spring. Jim Aust, the president and chief executive officer of Toyota Racing Development, said once the part was found to belong to RFR that it was returned. He was uncertain how the part, discovered on a table with other Toyota parts, got there or from which team it came. "I don't understand the whole procedure when a teardown happens," said Aust, referring to a post-race process in which several cars are broken down by NASCAR inspectors. "The only thing I know is it wound up with parts we had and [which were] returned to Roush. "It's unfortunate it happened the way it did. It wasn't anything intentional. There's no reason to be done intentional. I have no idea how it happened to begin with." Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith said the part in question was not a spring, but he would not elaborate. No one at RFR has identified which Toyota team had the part. "Jack is the only one to talk to at this time and he presently doesn't want to make any additional comments," Smith said.(ESPN.com)(3-26-2008)

No Roush Points swap: Roush Fenway Racing spokesman tells me that Roush Fenway Racing has no plans of swapping points from the #17 Matt Kenseth team to the #26 Jamie McMurray team, who is 36th in onwers points and nees to race his way into the race at Martinsville.(3-19-2008)

New colors for Kenseth at BMS: Matt Kenseth and the #17 team will sport the colors of Dish Network this weekend. He is the second Roush Fenway Racing driver to race the red, black and white Dish Network paint scheme this year. Carl Edwards recently won back-to-back races in the Dish Network car. Greg Biffle will carry the colors later this season. The trio are dubbed the Dish Network All-Stars.(RFR PR)(3-12-2008)

USG scheme returns to the #17: MattKenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme on the #17 Ford at Las Vegas on Sunday for the first of three times this season. The other two USG Sheetrock races in 2008 are Chicago in July and Atlanta in October.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), see the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(2-27-2008)

2nd Thoughts by Reiser UPDATE: For the past 12 years, between the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, Robbie Reiser [former #17 crew chief] was in the midst of the buzz as Kenseth's crew chief. His adrenalin would be flowing in anticipation of all the calls he would have to make to get his driver into Victory Lane. "I don't like it that much," he said of his new job as general manager at Roush Fenway Racing. "If somebody came up and said you can do your old job again, I'd probably take it in a heartbeat." Daytona was Reiser's first weekend in his new role. He spent most of Sunday bouncing between each of team owner Jack Roush's five haulers, making sure the crew chiefs had everything they needed for the Daytona race and this weekend's Sprint Cup race at California Speedway. Reiser says he'll give this role a few months before deciding if it'll become permanent. If he decides it's not for him, he won't hesitate to look for another crew chief job, at Roush Racing or another organization. "When we get to April and May, I'll look at it," Reiser said. "If I still can't stand it, I'll go talk to Jack." Adjusting to all the management meetings has been Reiser's toughest chore. He would rather have his head under the hood getting his hands greasy than pushing a pencil.(full story and more at ESPN.com)(2-22-2008)

UPDATE: Former crew chief Robbie Reiser, who now oversees Roush Fenway Racing's Cup program, told ESPN.com last week that he doesn't like his new role as general manager. Car owner Jack Roush was asked about Reiser's comments Monday. "He's not yet got comfortable with his new job,'' Roush said. "One of the things that happens is that between the driver and me, there's a crew chief. [He] would intercede for the driver and, by the same token, the driver would intercede for the crew chief if things aren't as they might be. Right now, it's Robbie and I. There's no buffer. Some days I think that may be not as comfortable as what he had. He's got a real big job. He's doing a good job at it. If he had a choice today between going back and being a crew chief and being a manager, he'd probably go back, but we're not going to give him that choice.''(Roanoke Times)(2-27-2008)

The DISH Network to sponsor Roush cars for 15 races: Roush Fenway Racing announced DISH Network has signed on as a sponsor in the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. DISH Network will have a team representative and serve as a primary sponsor in 15 Sprint Cup Races in 2008, alternating between three Roush Fenway drivers. Greg Biffle will drive the #16 DISH Network Ford Fusion in 11 Sprint Cup races, Carl Edwards will drive the #99 Ford in three races [this week at California is one] and Matt Kenseth will race the #17 Ford in one race [Bristol in March]. The DISH Network team of drivers will be dubbed the DISH Network AllStars. The DISH Network AllStars first race is Sunday, Feb. 24 featuring the 2007 Nationwide Series champion #99-Carl Edwards.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-21-2008)

Kenseth going for 3 in a row at Calif: #17-Matt Kenseth, attempting to win the Auto Club 500 for a third-straight year, is the all-time leader in NASCAR wins at California Speedway, posting six wins total; four in the Nationwide Series and two in the Sprint Cup Series. Kenseth will run the Carhartt paint scheme on Sunday for the first of four times this season. He won this event last year in the Carhartt scheme, marking the first time Kenseth had won a Cup event in a paint scheme other than DEWALT. The other three Carhartt races in '08 are Michigan in June, Loudon in Sep., and Charlotte in Oct.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(2-20-2008)

DeWalt NANO Paint Scheme Returns for six races in 2008: The popular, predominantly black, DeWalt NANO Technology paint scheme will return to Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford for six races in 2008. All six are night races with the paint scheme debuting at Phoenix International Raceway on April 12th. After that, the month of May will nearly be a complete "black out," with the paint scheme running three consecutive races, beginning at Richmond International Raceway on May 3rd, then Darlington Raceway on May 10th, and the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 17th. The next stop for the DeWalt NANO Technology scheme will be at one of Kenseth's favorite tracks, Bristol Motor Speedway, for the August 23rd night race, where he's won two of the last three night races. Then the final stop for the paint scheme will be back at Richmond International Raceway on September 6th, for the "regular season" finale, the cutoff for the Chase. "It's a cool-looking car and I'm glad that we'll be running it some in 2008," Kenseth said. "I've always thought black racecars look really cool and I think the fans liked the scheme when it ran last year. I know the last time we ran the NANO scheme we had a pretty good day at Homestead, so maybe it can bring us the same kind of good luck this year." NANO Technology is a proprietary technology from DEWALT that delivers to the user longer cycle life, lighter weight, greater performance, and an expanded system of tool offerings. These benefits encompass the DEWALT commitment to providing professional contractors with a breadth of tool offerings that deliver the performance they need in an ideal ergonomic package.(Roush Fenway Racing Site), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(2-5-2008)

CitiFinancial sponsoring Roush: CitiFinancial will be the primary sponsor on a variety of Roush Fenway Racing entries in all 35 Nationwide Series events in 2008. The sponsorship is part of Citi's new multifaceted, strategic marketing partnership with Roush Fenway Racing. As part of the relationship, CitiFinancial will tap into Roush Fenway's all-star driver lineup to pilot the CitiFinancial Ford. In addition, Citi will become a major associate sponsor on all Roush Fenway Racing teams, including the Sprint Cup Series entries of #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth, #26-Jamie McMurray, and #6-David Ragan.(Roush Fenway PR)(1-19-2008)

2007 News

Kenseth wins at Homestead; Johnson the champ: #17-Matt Kenseth won the FORD 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway for his 2nd win of the season and 16th of his career. #2-Busch finished 2nd, followed by #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon [record setting 30th top 10 in 36 races], #99-Edwards, #1-Truex Jr., #48-Johnson, #31-Burton, #01-Martin and #6-Ragan. #48-Johnson clinced and won the 2007 Nextel Cup Championship by 77 points over #24-Jeff Gordon. Johnson is the first driver to win back-to-back championships since Gordon in 1997-1998. Other Chasers finished: #29-Harvick 19th, #5-Busch 20th, #20-Stewart 30th and #07-Bowyer 39th. #8-Earnhardt Jr. wrecked and finished 36th. There were 7 cautions for 32 laps and 11 drivers led the race with 25 lead changes.Race Results on my Homestead Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Homestead pageRace Rundown: see my Homestead Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(11-18-2007)

Roush Fenway Racing announces new GM - Robbie Reiser; Bolin new crew chief? UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing announced Thursday that championship crew chief, Robbie Reiser, has been appointed General Manager of Roush Fenway Racing's Nextel Cup team operations. "This is a great opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to the next phase of my racing career," Reiser said. "If it's anywhere near as fun, competitive, and successful as the previous phase, then we're going to be in good shape. It wasn't an easy decision to stop being the crew chief of the #17 team, but now I get to work with all of our Cup teams and help improve our performance as a whole. I'm looking forward to the new challenge." Reiser replaces Max Jones and steps into the GM role with well over 20 years of racing experience under his belt. Roush Fenway Racing is expected to name other crew changes to the #17 Ford team in the upcoming weeks.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), hearing that Chip Bolin, the team engineer will be the new crew chief for Kenseth and the #17.(11-15-2007)UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing didn't have to look far to find a new crew chief for Matt Kenseth. Chip Bolin, the team engineer since 1999, will replace Robbie Reiser after Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(ESPN)(11-16-2007)

Doug Yates and Max Jones join forces: Yates Racing announced Thursday that Max Jones, long-time general manager for Roush Fenway Racing and former road-racing driver has joined Yates Racing as a co-owner and will also assume the role of General Manager . Jones, a native of Long Beach, Calif., joins Yates Racing after serving as general manager for Roush Fenway Racing's Cup program in 2007. "We're thrilled to have someone as respected as Max join Yates Racing," said Yates Racing owner, Doug Yates. "With his experience in the sport and working with such a large and successful organization as Roush Fenway Racing for so many years, he will immediately step in and improve our race operations. As we continue to improve and restructure in preparation for a successful 2008 season, having someone with Max's experience and credibility only accelerates the process of getting Yates Racing back to where it needs to be and that's competing for wins and championships on a weekly basis." Jones will add his experience to one of the most successful operations in motorsports. Since venturing into NASCAR's Cup series in 1989, Yates Racing has recorded 57 wins, 269 top fives, and 427 top-10 finishes, including the Cup
series championship in 1999.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(11-15-2007)

Reiser moving up to be Roush Fenway GM: One of the longest tenured crew chief-driver relationships in Nextel Cup will end after Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Robbie Reiser, who has been #17-Matt Kenseth's crew chief since they entered NASCAR's premier series in 2000 and long before that in the Busch Series, will become the general manager at Roush Fenway Racing. He will replace Max Jones, who will move into the GM role at Robert Yates Racing [will just be Yates Racing in 2008]. RYR and Roush recently formed an alliance that basically will allow them to work as a seven-car operation without violating NASCAR's four-car cap. Reiser will follow in the footsteps of his father, who was the general manager of Roush"s Busch Series and Truck Series teams. The elder Reiser lost a battle with cancer prior to the Homestead race two years ago, which prompted his son to consider a move that would allow him more time with his family. "You look at things that you do in the long term," he said late last season. "Family becomes more important. ... My dad spent a lot of time with my kids. When he isn't around anymore somebody has to fill that void." Reiser hoped to get the Roush GM job last season that ultimately went to Jones. "I've done this for [13] years for Matt," he said at the time. "Not that I'm sick and tired of it or don't enjoy it or any of that, but somewhere along the line you've got to move to the next challenge. And the next challenge probably would be to oversee an operation in the garage. That's something I want to do down the road."(ESPN.com), no word on who will be Kenseth's new crew chief in 2008.(11-14-2007)

NANO back with Kenseth: For the third time in 2007, Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford Fusion will be painted black with the DEWALT NANO Technology paint scheme. Kenseth will also run the scheme at Homestead in the season finale.(Roush Racing PR), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(11-8-2007)

USG colors for Kenseth: For the third and final time in 2007, Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford will don the USG Sheetrock paint scheme at Texas this weekend. In the previous two outings, it finished 10th at Martinsville in April and second at Chicago in July.(Roush Racing PR), see images of the scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(11-1-2007)

Kenseth/Edwards altercation: UPDATES: on pit road at Martinsville Speedway after the Subway 500 Nextel Cup race, #17-Matt Kenseth and #99-Carl Edwards got into some sort of altercation which was aired on the SPEED Report Sunday night [and aired on Victory Lane the next hour]. SPEED's Bob Dilner was getting ready to interview Kenseth, when Edwards came over the wall to talk to Kenseth, Dilner backed away but the camera was rolling, Edwards pushed Kenseth away from Dilner down the pit wall, and was 'talking' to Kenseth, touching Kenseth the whole time, the camera then cut away to show Kenseth on the inside of the wall and Edwards on the outside, both drivers said something as they were leaving and then Edwards came back towards Kenseth and faked a punch at Kenseth, who flinched and looked surprised. Edwards then walked away and Kenseth came towards Dilner and that was it. No word on what the exchange was about or if there will be any penalties from Roush Fenway Racing or NASCAR. The video can be seen at SPEEDtv.com about 8 minutes into the Subway 500 video.(10-22-2007)UPDATE: Owner Jack Roush has talked to both drivers with a simple message. "He told them they've got to settle this without wrecking our cars," team president Geoff Smith said on Tuesday. "He told them to get yourself at peace with one another, then go compete against one another as hard as you want to compete." Smith said neither driver would be punished by the organization, noting that Roush has a policy that teammates are allowed to compete against each other as though they are not teammates. Smith doesn't believe Edwards intended to hit Kenseth.(ESPN.com)(10-23-2007)AND: Carl Edwards apologized Tuesday for his actions following Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, saying he was wrong to show his anger toward Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. Edwards said on a NASCAR teleconference that trouble has been brewing between the pair for a while and that it's probably been six months since they've had a conversation. Now, he wants to change all of that. Edwards is hoping that he and his Roush Fenway teammates can do a better job of having a "team spirit," and he says he plans to do his best to communicate better not only with Kenseth, but with all his Roush Fenway teammates. Edwards took full blame for his actions, pledged to get to know his teammates better and analyzed what could have brought on this type of display. He added that he would take the first step toward mending fences.(SceneDaily.com)(10-23-2007)Kenseth Comments: Kenseth wasn't very surprised when Edwards accosted him shortly after the race. "His behavior has been real erratic lately, honestly," Kenseth said of his Roush Fenway Racing teammate. "You don't know what to expect with him. That's the thing that's a little bit troublesome. One minute, he has so much respect for you, and he's real friendly and everything's so much fun. The next minute he wants to kick your butt and he's swearing at you. It's a little scary. You never know what you're going to get. I thought it was good in a way that the cameras were there because a lot of us see that, and nobody else does because he kind of puts on a different front."(USA Today)(10-24-2007)

NANO scheme for Kenseth at Atlanta: For the second time this season Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford will carry the DeWalt NANO Technology paint scheme. The predominantly black car will run twice more, at Phoenix and Homestead.(Roush Racing PR) The scheme first ran at Dover in Sept, see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(10-23-2007)

Special Scheme for Kenseth at Dover: #17-Matt Kenseth is scheduled to run a DeWALT / NANO Technologies special paint scheme at Dover on September 23rd. See an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(9-17-2007)

Yellow and Green colors for the #17 at California: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the R+L Carriers paint scheme for the third time this season in Sunday's Sharp Aquos 500. In his previous two he has scored finishes of 12th at Charlotte in May and eighth at Daytona in July. The R+L Carriers scheme will run once more at Martinsville in October.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(8-29-2007)

Braun to make stock car debut in ARCA for Roush: Colin Braun, driver of the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion, will make his Roush Fenway Racing debut in Friday night's ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Gateway International Speedway. Braun recently signed long-term contracts with Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Racing.(Ford Racing PR)(8-29-2007)

Kenseth wins Late Model race: Matt Kenseth won the All-Star 50, a late-model stock car race held at the Milwaukee Mile, on Sunday. Kenseth broke the late-model track record in qualifying before starting the race in the eighth position after the top eight in qualifying started in inverse order. Kenseth quickly rushed up to second place just eight laps into the feature race, then took the lead for good halfway through the event with a pass into the first turn. It was Kenseth's first win at the track in 12 races -- including eight in late models (including ASA) and four in the Busch series. Dean Cornelius, a 23-year-old from Minnesota, finished second, Dan Fredrickson was third and Jesse Saunders of New Glarus was fourth.
(Capital Times)(8-27-2007)

Roush to sell off one team, then help: In 2010, Roush Fenway Racing will have to shrink from five cars to four, but Jack Roush already has a plan in mind: Sell the fifth car to a group of investors as what he called "seed corn" for an investor-controlled four-car team owned and funded by a group outside of Roush but fueled with Roush crews and technology.
"It shouldn't go without notice that we are unabated in our effort to find and identify new drivers and to build our crews and teams with outsiders to the extent that we can and advance them through the programs as they get experience," Roush said. "We're on a track to be able to help somebody come in and provide the technology and the manpower to get them started."(Ford Racing)(8-18-2007)

Fan arrested after going on the track UPDATE: The sports marketing folks will tell you NASCAR has become a Big Four sport in the country because easy access to drivers makes them seem like ordinary people. Very easy access, one fan proved on Sunday afternoon when he simply walked onto the track for an autograph. During a late-race, red-flag period, a man ran up to Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford, reached through the passenger window and asked the driver to sign his hat. "He just said, 'Will you sign this?'" Kenseth was heard saying to his crew over the driver radio. "I'm like, 'I'm a little busy right now.'" The man, half inside the car window, asked again but Kenseth refused. The man finally gave up and ran - in a far from straight line - back toward the fans' area. He was soon arrested. The man apparently gained access to the track by climbing over the large wire fence, ran across the grass, then stepped over the blue barrier at trackside.(Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)(8-13-2007)UPDATE: Statement from Watkins Glen International President Craig Rust Regarding Fan on Track during Centurion Boats at the Glen: "During the Centurion Boats at The Glen we apprehended a fan after he climbed a fence in attempt to get an autograph from a Nextel Cup Series driver while the race was under a red flag caution for clean up
after an incident in Turn 1. The person was immediately apprehended by WGI Security and Schuyler Co Sheriff's Deputies and charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor and criminal trespass in the third degree, a Class B misdemeanor. He was arraigned before the Town of Dix Justice where he was committed to the
Schuyler County Jail in lieu of $3000 cash bail or $5000 bond. He was later released Sunday night after posting bail. He faces one year in jail if convicted of the endangerment charge. The Schuyler Co. District Attorney's office is now involved in the on going investigation into the incident. Watkins Glen International is committed to providing a fun and safe
environment for fans and competitors therefore we will not tolerate this type of behavior. We feel that it is in the best interest of the track and NASCAR to ban this fan from all future events held here. We are also asking all other NASCAR facilities, including our sister ISC facilities, to also honor this ban at any of their future events."(WGI PR)(8-14-2007)

Roush COT Testing in Full Swing: Entering this weekend's USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicago, Ford and Roush finally look like a match for the Chevys. "The big thing that has helped us with the Car of Tomorrow is we now have a test team," [Jack] Roush said. "We are doing the things I thought we weren't going to be allowed to do when NASCAR told us we couldn't take tires from the racetrack because they didn't want us to test. I thought they would put teeth in that, but they didn't. We got behind. But five weeks ago I hired six people and dedicated a tractor-trailer [for testing]. We've been to Iowa, Milwaukee four times in the last month, and Road Atlanta and VIR [Virginia International Raceway]." Roush's three 2007 victories have come with NASCAR's current car, and the Chicagoland race also will feature the current car. But if Roush Fenway is going to compete with the Chevy teams for the championship, it will have to have a strong COT program. "We're not caught up yet," Roush said. "But we're certainly on the path, and we'll be heard from more before the year is over."(Tampa Tribune)(7-13-2007)

USG Colors for Kenseth at Chicago: Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford Fusion will carry the USG Sheetrock colors this weekend in the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicago. It marks the second of three times this season Kenseth will pilot the USG Sheetrock Ford; the first was at Martinsville in April where he finished 10th, and the last will be at Texas in November.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the car on my #17 Team Schemes page.(7-11-2007)

New York Investors Looking for Cup Teams: The buzz in the garage in New Hampshire is that at least two New York-based investment banking firms have been making the rounds among Nextel Cup teams, looking to invest in one or more teams, eventually taking a race team public with a stock offering. So far, there have been no takers among the NASCAR team owners. At least one of the investment firms has talked with multiple teams in the garage, including Robert Yates Racing [#38 & #88], Dale Earnhardt, Inc. [#1, #8, #15] and Roush Fenway Racing [#6, #16, #17, #26, #99], multiple sources said. The idea has been for the companies to make cash investments of upwards of $50 million in a team and then at some point sell their interests, perhaps by public stock offering. "We looked at their business plan and it didn't make sense to us," said Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith, who confirmed his team had been contacted by a New York-based investment fund that he did not identify by name. Robert Yates talked extensively with the potential investors and reached the same conclusion. "You sit in a room with about 20 bankers and you spend about 18 hours in there with them and you realize that they didn't contribute anything to the gross national product except maybe going to the bathroom," said Yates, who also has entertained merger and/or partnership offers from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Robby Gordon Motorsports and Hall of Fame Racing, among others, before deciding to go it alone. Another team principal who spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday morning at New Hampshire, said the team he works with was approached by investors, but chose not to get involved with them, either. "They had a ton of money, but they didn't know anything at all about racing," he said, adding the team was not in need of a cash infusion and would only consider an outside investor if that investor could add significant value to the team.(SPEEDtv.com)(7-2-2007)

Roush: Aflac deal could be sign of things to come: Jack Roush says that his team's new partnership with Aflac could highlight how future sponsorships will work in the sport. The company is sponsoring eight Nextel Cup races as primary sponsor for #16-Greg Biffle this season. It is also sponsoring four Busch Series races with drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. It's a business move that gives the company access to four of the organization's drivers. "The time may be waning when a new sponsor could come into our business and understand how to make their marketing program be configured in order to give them the value for a full schedule," Roush said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I think that the way that Aflac is coming in with a limited schedule, with some races in the Busch as well as the Cup side with multiple drivers I think is a prudent way to do it."(SceneDaily.com)(6-16-2007)

Roush not interested in Busch: His ride gone for next season and then his agent, #5-Kyle Busch faces more changes.
He'll search for a new ride and could be barred from some Hendrick Motorsports team meetings [as Brian Vickers was in 2006] even as he tries to make the title chase. Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. replaces him next year, Busch wouldn't mope about his situation Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I'm interested in talking to ... whoever's got an open seat," Busch said before qualifying third for Sunday's race. "Let's sit down. Let's have dinner." Many owners are expected to answer, but not Jack Roush, for whom Busch drove before moving to Hendrick in 2003. "I am not interested in Kyle Busch," Roush said. "I've been there and I've done that."(Roanoke Times)(6-16-2007)

Roush to test COT more: Ford team-owner Jack Roush [#6,16,17,26,99] will use B.F. Goodrich and/or Hoosier tires to test his Car of Tomorrow fleet on non-Nextel Cup tracks in coming months. The team owner believes Roush Fenway Racing is slightly behind rivals that are skirting the spirit of NASCAR's testing policies. By rule, Cup teams are limited to a handful of closely-monitored official tests. Teams must test together at the same Cup venue, and on Goodyear Eagles. But several organizations have gotten around that limit by using Goodrich and/or Hoosiers for unofficial testing at outside tracks. "NASCAR wanted to start everybody in the Car of Tomorrow on an even basis, with [the same] four or five tests," Roush said at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Well, the teams that have been successful-the Hendrick organization, the Gibbs organization and the Childress organization-have tested their cars multiple times a week. They've gone to tracks outside NASCAR's control with tires that were not from Goodyear. Right now, Goodyear is sitting on millions of dollars worth of tires that are growing obsolete and hard in their warehouses. Teams have gotten around NASCAR's policy by buying other people's tires and testing at tracks that aren't on the Nextel Cup schedule. I got behind on that; I didn't do that. But two weeks ago I hired six people and dedicated a tractor-trailer, and I've gone public. 'OK, I'm getting in the testing game, too.' If you don't want us to test, have us sign something in the application. Something that says, 'We agree we won't test with Goodyears or anybody else's tires, except for the tracks that NASCAR approves.' But they didn't do that; they left the door open and we got behind... but we're going to catch up." Strictly speaking, there's nothing illegal about what the Hendrick, Gibbs and Childress teams are doing. Jeff Gordon, who's won two CoT races-teammate Jimmie Johnson has won two and Kyle Busch the other-said Hendrick Motorsports shouldn't apologize for its CoT success. "If the Roush teams aren't doing that, then that's their mistake," the series points-leader said. "We're doing everything we can to be competitive and we're not doing anything wrong. It's definitely playing a role in helping us get to where we are."(Ford Racing)(5-29-2007)

Roush, Red Sox Plan New England Bash: The first major collaboration to come from the partnership between Fenway Sports Group and the former Roush Racing will take place next month in Boston and New Hampshire with an event called Roush Fenway Days.
Roush Fenway Racing will have two days of activities at Fenway Park June 28-29, culminating with a baseball game between The Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers on June 29th. "We're having our midyear sponsor summit there, followed by the game," said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. "We're having our big racing displays and event displays, like you would here at a racetrack, surround the park and be somewhat in the park. People get to participate in batting practice and there will be a big P.R. rollout inside the park with the drivers and players and so forth." From there, Smith said, the action will move to New Hampshire International Speedway, site of the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup race July 1. "I think you'll see one of our cars with a special paint scheme and some special guests," said Smith. "It'll integrate NASCAR and the whole Fenway Red Sox experience kind of all in one big weekend."
Smith also said the team is close to announcing a title sponsor to the event.(SPEEDtv.com)(5-28-2007)

#17 show car snatched: Between 5:00am and 5:45am/et on the morning of Wednesday, May 2, a #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion show car along with the transporter, both tractor and trailer, were stolen from the Hampton Inn parking lot, off of Druid Hills Road in Atlanta, Ga. The Ford F-350 and the display trailer was recovered later that morning, however, the #17 USG Sheetrock Ford show car is still missing. The truck and trailer were found abandoned and vandalize on the side of a road in the Atlanta area. So, still missing: #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion show car - blue and red with numerous logos. USG Sheetrock on the hood and the number 17 on the sides and roof of the car. A replica model of Roush Fenway Racing's #17 USG Sheetrock Ford that competes in the Nextel Cup Series. Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of stolen vehicle, please contact the Auto Theft Unit of Dekalb County Sheriff Office 770-724-7650.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-3-2007)

Carl Edwards' Busch Win is Roush Fenway's 350th Overall: Carl Edwards drove the #60 Dish Network Ford home to his second Busch Series win of the 2007 season in Nashville over the weekend and at the same time, hit a milestone for Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards' second consecutive win gave Roush Fenway their 350th overall win. Of the 350 wins Jack Roush has obtained, 234 of them have been wins in NASCAR's three elite series (Nextel Cup - 101; Busch Series - 90; Craftsman Truck Series - 43). Of the 101 Nextel Cup wins, 96 of them have been point races while the other five have come from wins in the Bud Shootout (1), The Winston (1), The Winston Open (1) and the Nextel All-Star Challenge (2). In the Busch and Truck Series, Roush Fenway's 90 and 43 wins respectively, make Roush the most winning owner of any other owner in both of those series. In addition to the 234 wins, Roush has also collected 116 road racing victories bringing Roush Fenway Racing's win column total to 350.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-9-2007)

Roush Not Gloating Over Toyota's Woes: After all the buildup from Detroit rivals about the Toyota monster crushing NASCAR competition, the season so far has seen quite the opposite, with most Toyota teams struggling just to make the fields. But [Jack] Roush isn't backing away from his quite vocal worries. "I'm not going to gloat over what's happened, or take any glee in it," Roush said, "because it's hard to start a new program, around new people and new drivers and a new manufacturer. And this year's hardware issues (like the car of tomorrow) make it triple tough. I didn't expect Toyota to be a factor early on. But the comments I've made were not based on what I looked for in the first half of 2007, or even all of 2007, but rather 2008, 2009 and beyond will be a very good time for Toyota, if they continue to have the money they now have available to get the people and technologies. Toyota will get it right ... and they will put the rest of us in the back, unless NASCAR is vigilant in its effort to protect against unlimited amounts of money coming into this sport and buying everything of value from the existing teams. If Toyota can do that, there will be an upset the likes of which we have never seen. Right now the good news for the established teams is that the good drivers have all been under contract, and the good crew chiefs and the best crewmen have not been willing to take a chance on an upstart team or a new program. But as time goes on, as the Toyota teams get their legs under them and start to consistently qualify, the more those people who have the talents to make a difference in the programs will be inclined to consider the generous offers they've made- offers that will escalate as time goes on."(Winston-Salem Journal)(4-8-2007)

Kenseth pilots Boeing 737 Simulator: #17-Matt Kenseth is familiar with maneuvering around a race track and through the air, but Thursday the Cambridge, Wis. native experienced a new kind of sensation. As part of his NASCAR Winner's Circle appearance with Texas Motor Speedway Kenseth spent the day at the American Airlines Training Academy in Fort Worth learning the ropes of piloting a Boeing 737 aircraft. Kenseth, who is a pilot himself and owns a Learjet, was in awe with the simulated experience.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(4-7-2007)

USG colors for Kenseth at Martinsville: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme this weekend for the first of three races this season (Chicago in July and Texas in November). (Roush Racing), see scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(3-29-2007)

Roush Fenway must lose team by 2010: Roush Fenway Racing will have to decrease its number of Nextel Cup teams from five to four by the start of the 2010 season, team president Geoff Smith said Saturday. NASCAR announced in 2005 that it would limit organizations to four fulltime Cup teams and that it would work with Roush to get down from four to five. Originally, the agreement was that once Roush lost a sponsor and driver at the same time, it would have to get down to four. "That [original discussion] triggered a loop that made the shrinkage date unpredictable, so it was [changed to] very simply, when the 2010 season starts, you'll have four," Smith said. "We have to be at four at the start of 2010, regardless of what happens to us in the interim, if we lose a driver, lose a sponsor."
Smith indicated that his contracts are solid through the 2009 season. He also said in the perfect world, Roush would sell one of the teams. "We've got three more years to sell one of our teams off," Smith said. "Hopefully, we can retain some business with that sale."(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2007)

Reiser back this weekend; #17 to run Arby's scheme: Robbie Reiser will return to the track this weekend, after
serving a four-race suspension. The past four races were the first Reiser had missed atop the pit box as #17-Matt Kenseth's crew chief since 1999, a steak of 255 races. Kenseth will run the Arby's paint scheme this weekend for the first and only time in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007.(Roush Racing PR)(3-21-2007)

#17 Team Penalties Upheld by Commission: On March 5, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Roush Fenway Racing regarding the No. 17 car. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-qualifying inspection on February 11, 2007 for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway. The infractions concerned Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book "Actions detrimental to stock car racing"; Section 12-4-Q "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules" and Section 20-2.1E "Unapproved aerodynamic modification."The penalties assessed were:

$50,000.00 fine; suspension from NASCAR for the next four (4) NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Events; suspension from NASCAR until March 21, 2007 (not including testing) for crew chief Robbie Reiser.
The Appellants did not contest the legality of the violations, nor appeal the suspensions, but appealed the severity of the fine and the points penalties. The Appellants presented an argument that a "ratcheting up" of penalties was not warranted in light of the recent record of penalties, and that lesser penalties had been previously issued to other teams for more egregious violations.In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors:

Roush Fenway Racing does not have a history of multiple rules violations.

These infractions were premeditated and intentional. They constituted serious violations.
In the judgment of the Commission, the penalties assessed are severe by the standards of a year or more ago. However, Commission members were advised that NASCAR executives had announced to contestants at a driver briefing in mid-2006 that the previous "benchmark" penalty standards for many serious violations would likely be increased going forward. Subsequent to that, two 50-point penalties were assessed during the 2006 season. Therefore, by a majority vote, it is the decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR PR)(3-5-2007)

Appeals to be heard next week: Penalty appeals for four Nextel Cup teams accused of breaking NASCAR's equipment rules leading up to the Daytona 500 will be heard early next week, NASCAR officials told ESPN.com on Tuesday. The appeals for Kasey Kahne's #9 team and Matt Kenseth's #17 team will be heard on March 5 in North Carolina. Appeals for Scott Riggs' #10 team and Elliott Sadler's #19 team will be heard the following day, also in North Carolina, NASCAR said.(ESPN.com)(2-27-2007)

Kenseth wins at California: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway for his 1st win of the 2007 season and 15 career win, tying him with Ernie Irvan and Kurt Busch for 28th overall. #29-Harvick was running down Kenseth with 6 laps to go, when there was a hard wreck by #00-Reutimann to cause a caution, then a red flag. After the red flag was rescinded, Harvick had a flat tire and had to pit as the green flew on the restart. Kenseth held off #24-Gordon to win. #48-Johnson finished 3rd followed by #31-Burton, #01-Martin, #07-Bowyer, #2-Busch, #20-Stewart, #5-Busch and #83-Vickers [first top-10 for a Toyota]. #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #9-Kahne both had engine problems and failed to finish the race. There were 9 cautions for 37 laps [and approx a 15 minute red flag during the 9th and final caution] and 13 drivers lead the race with 29 lead changes.Race Results on my California Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after California pageRace Rundown: see my California Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(2-25-2007)

Roush Fenway Racing owner gives MLB player a...Toyota: [Boston Red Sox slugger David] Ortiz got his own present Wednesday morning. Arriving at the Red Sox minor league facility for his physical, Ortiz was greeted with a Toyota Tundra pickup, courtesy of owner John W. Henry......why is this of interest? Red Sox owner John Henry is Jack Roush's new partner at Roush-Fenway Racing, they run Ford Fusion's and Jack Roush has spoken out against Toyota's involvement in NASCAR.....oops.(Heads up at Motorsports Soapbox, full article at the Hartford Courant)(2-26-2007)

Kenseth inducted into California Speedway's walk of fame: #17-Matt Kenseth was honored Saturday at California Speedway with a plaque with his likeness, as well as his footprint and signature on California Speedway's Walk of Fame. The California Speedway Walk of Fame, which commemorates past Nextel Cup Series winners at California Speedway by setting a plaque with their likeness into a cement fixture, is a monument similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the plaque installation ceremony, the
driver then has the opportunity to autograph the commemorative piece and place his or her feet into the slab before it dries. California
Speedway began the Walk of Fame tradition in 1998 after Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag at the inaugural 1997 Cup event at California Speedway. The ceremony was a huge success and the tradition has continued ever since. The ceremony featured a Walk of Fame induction of Kenseth for driving his way to victory at last year's Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. It was his first Nextel Cup Series victory at California to go along with his three [now four] Busch Series victories at California Speedway. Along with his name adorning a permanent piece of California Speedway, Kenseth also received a one-of-a-kind gift. For the past several years, Ohana Kemp Surfboards, a surfboard shaping company out of Orange County, California, has been custom shaping and designing custom boards for all Nextel Cup Series winners at California Speedway.(California Speedway PR)(2-25-2007)

Gulf Oil shows interest in Roush-Fenway: Roush Racing's 50-50 partnership with John Henry's Fenway Sports Group, finally announced last week at Daytona International Speedway, might show an immediate return. One of the Boston Red Sox's longtime partners, Gulf Oil, has expressed an interest in a sponsorship position with Roush. Gulf, a Fenway Sports Group client based in Chelsea, Mass., distributes motor fuels and lubricants in about 2,600 branded gas stations, with a footprint that extends from Ohio to the east and Delaware to the north. The company's 65-foot logo is painted on the left-field wall at Fenway Park. "NASCAR really never made sense for us before because it is a national play and we're a regional company," said Richard Dery, Gulf's vice president of branded marketing and sales. "A race at Daytona doesn't do us a lot of good, but a race at Loudon, N.H. -- that could be a really fun day." Dery said his discussions with Roush have involved sponsorships for select races in Gulf's footprint, primarily the July 1 Lenox 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Gulf also could become the official motor oil of Roush Fenway Racing. Fenway Sports Group and the Red Sox are sister companies, both owned by John Henry, who said he hoped the partnership with Roush would vault FSG into a prominent position in sports marketing.(Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service)(2-23-2007)

Roush to appeal #17 penalty: Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith has filed an appeal of the points penalty given to driver #17-Matt Kenseth after his car failed post-qualifying inspection. Kenseth was docked 50 championship points, which Smith claims is too harsh based on precedence set last year with Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's team was fined and crew chief Chad Knaus suspended for four races when his car failed post-qualifying inspection a year ago. Kenseth lost crew chief Robbie Reiser for four races and the points. "We're not appealing the suspension," Smith said. "But NASCAR said last year when they suspended Johnson's crew chief that they want to be consistent with their penalties. There's no precedence for 50 points."(ESPN.com)(2-19-2007)

Roush names Reiser sub; thinking of appeal UPDATE:: On Tuesday, Roush Racing appointed Chip Bolin, long-time engineer on the #17 team, as the interim crew chief for the remainder of Speedweeks at Daytona and throughout Reiser's suspension. Jack Roush stated, "I respect and accept NASCAR's determination that the car was out of compliance as it was inspected after Sunday's qualifying attempt. I have asked (Roush Racing President) Geoff Smith to evaluate whether the penalties assessed are unduly harsh for the circumstances before making a final decision as to whether or not we will appeal the severity of the penalty imposed." Smith said, "The extreme harshness of the penalty surprises me given NASCAR's recent history of imposing lesser penalties on habitual offenders engaged in radically more flagrant rule offenses. For that reason, I am likely to recommend that we appeal the penalty assessment, although I have some more study to do before I officially make that recommendation."(Roush Racing PR)(2-13-2007)UPDATE: Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing, said he will appeal a 50-point penalty but not Reiser's suspension. Evernham said he's still debating an appeal.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-15-2007)

Roush Racing & Fenway Sports Group partner up: Today, during Speedweeks in Daytona Beach, Fla., Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced the formation of Roush Fenway Racing. Under the agreement, FSG will purchase 50% of
Roush Racing to form the new entity. Jack Roush will continue to manage the competitive operations of the race teams and Geoff Smith will continue as president to oversee business activities. FSG will support Roush Fenway Racing's marketing and sales activities by using their experience, network of relationships, and powerful demographic base to add value to Roush Fenway Racing sponsors and help Roush Fenway Racing maintain an unsurpassed position among NASCAR teams on and off the track.
"This partnership will bring a whole new perspective to our business," said Jack Roush. "There is a lot of hard work that goes into being successful in sport. John Henry and FSG understand what it takes. Anybody that has watched the Red Sox has been impressed with their tenacity and their ability to prevail after all the frustration. To be able to have someone to bounce ideas and strategies off of will be fun. Everyone at Roush Racing is excited to welcome our new partner and we look forward to our success together."
"This is an unprecedented partnership of two extremely successful organizations with proven track records for winning in their respective businesses and sports," said Mike Dee, chief operating officer of the Boston Red Sox and president of Fenway Sports Group. "We believe in NASCAR and like its long-term business future and are thrilled to be a part of this exciting and growing industry."
The new Roush Fenway Racing logo will make its track debut at Daytona International Speedway beginning Thursday, February 15 during the Gatorade 150 qualifying races. All of Roush Fenway Racing's 13 teams will be competing throughout the weekend.
Off the track, the Roush Fenway Racing focus will be to continue to service its world-class sponsorship base which includes such great companies as; DeWalt Power Tools, Diageo (Crown Royal), AAA, Office Depot, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, 3M, Ford Motor Company, Northern Tool + Equipment, Dish Network, Discount Tire and Coca Cola, whose sponsorships Roush supports with public relations, licensing, event marketing and account management services.
Geoff Smith summed up the overall goal by saying, "We wholeheartedly believe that the addition of FSG, and the incorporation of its expertise and demographic power will insure that Roush Fenway Racing will indefinitely preserve our pre-eminent position among NASCAR teams both on and off the track." FSG's core strengths include property representation and acquisitions, entertainment marketing, sponsorships and consulting services. For more information please visit FenwaySportsGroup.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(2-14-2007)

Penalties Announced: 4 Crew Chiefs Suspended, Fines, Points Taken Away: UPDATE: NASCAR announced Tuesday that four Nextel Cup Series crew chiefs have been suspended from competition, starting with Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500. Two of the four - Ken Francis, crew chief for the #9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne; and Robbie Reiser, crew chief for the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth - have been suspended for four races and fined $50,000. Also, Kahne and Kenseth were penalized with the loss of 50 driver championship points while their car owners, Ray Evernham and Jack Roush, were penalized 50 car owner championship points. The violations by the #9 and #17 teams were found during post-qualifying inspection on Feb. 11. Both teams' qualifying times were disallowed. Two others - Rodney Childers, crew chief for the #10 Dodge driven by Scott Riggs; and Josh Browne, crew chief for the #19 Dodge driven by Elliott Sadler - have been suspended for two races and fined $25,000. In addition, Riggs and Sadler were penalized 25 driver championship points while their car owners, James Rocco and Evernham, were penalized 25 car owner championship points. The violations by the #10 and #19 teams were found prior to qualifying. In each instance the violations were of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules) and 20-2.1E (unapproved aerodynamic modification) of the series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(2-13-2007)

Kenseth, Kahne times disallowed UPDATE 4 penalties to be announced today: #9-Kasey Kahne and #17-Matt Kenseth qualifying times/speeds been disallowed, both will start at the end of the 2nd Gatorade Duel race. The #17 and #9 cars were found to have illegal aerodynamic devices/enhancements. NASCAR's Jim Hunter said both infraction is considered as serious as the one that caused #48-Johnson's crew chief to be suspended after Daytona 500 qualifying last year. While the crew chiefs have not been suspended, NASCAR has not rules out anything, penalties are forthcoming. Both Kahne and Kahne will be allowed to start their respective Duel 150's from the rear.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show), #17-Kenseth had qualified 11th, #9-Kahne 28th. See the revised qualifying results on my Daytona Qualifying/Grid Page.(2-11-2007)UPDATE: The qualifying times for both drivers were disallowed because inspections found unapproved changes to the body of both cars. Kenseth was 11th and Kahne was 28th in the qualifying speeds. Hunter said penalties will follow for both teams, probably in an announcement on Monday. "We found unapproved devices that enhanced the aerodynamics of those cars," Hunter said. "There were holes where it was supposed to be sealed. One of the cars had holes in the wheel well." Both cars will be allowed to start at the back of the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race on Thursday. Both teams are guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500 because they were among the top 35 teams in points last year.(ESPN.com)UPDATE 2: NASCAR is meeting today over the #17 and #9 times being disallowed, penalties will not be announced today [Monday], probably Tuesday or as late as Wednesday this week.(2-12-2007)UPDATE 3: on ESPN's NASCAR Now, Marty Smith said that NASCAR told him penalties would not be announced until late Tuesday afternoon at the earliest or as late as Wednesday.(2-12-2007)UPDATE 4: at the beginning of Brian France's State of NASCAR address, there was no announcement on the penalties, but NASCAR's Jim Hunter said the announcement would come later this afternoon. Sirius NASCAR Radio reports that the crew chiefs will be suspended immediately, fined and the team/drivers could be penalized points.(2-13-2007)

Reiser reups with the #17 team: After speculation that Robbie Reiser would step off the Nextel Cup Series pit box sooner, rather than later, and take a higher-level position with Roush Racing, the driver's crew chief said Friday he has signed a three-year contract extension to maintain his crew chief position with the #17 team. "The other position that everyone was talking about, that was the drivers pushing that," Reiser said. "That wasn't so much me talking about it as it was Matt and Greg Biffle. I'm not saying I wouldn't take a position like that down the road, but right now, I wasn't quite ready for something like that." Reiser, who has served as Kenseth's crew chief since 1997, has helped the Cambridge native to 14 Cup victories and the 2003 Cup championship. Late last season, Kenseth suggested Reiser might be on his last legs as a crew chief. The 43-year-old Reiser reportedly wanted to spend less time traveling and more time with his wife, Tracy, and their sons, Ryan, Rhett and Reed. "Robbie's future has come up at the end of each of the last three years," Kenseth said. "We didn't really talk about whether he should work with the DeWALT team or work with the Roush organization. What I always tell him, though, is that whatever he wants to do, I'll support that. This business is a long grind, so whatever makes him happy makes me happy. I think you go through years where you get dragged down and tired because you have so much going on, but then you have years where you're running good and you realize that what your doing is the thing you really love to do. ... Robbie loves the thrill of the chase and calling the race and being on the pit box. And I think he would really have missed that had he taken another role in Roush Racing." Reiser decided to sign the contract extension shortly after Christmas. "I'm gone from home about 75% of the time, so (the travel) does take a toll on you," he said. "But I'm not quite ready to sit down and watch all the action from afar. I like being in the battle and I like to win races and championships. I ain't going to do that sitting at home."(Wisconsin State Journal)(2-13-2007)

Fenway Sports Group/Roush deal completed, announced the 14th: A group of investors led by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry has completed a deal to buy a 50% stake in the Roush Racing NASCAR team, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday. Although team owner Jack Roush is selling half of the team to the Fenway Sports Group, Roush will continue to run the team's competitive operations, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. Both parties have scheduled a Feb. 14 news conference at Jackie Robinson Ballpark [105 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach], a minor league facility near Daytona International Speedway. Roush, who was wearing his trademark fedora as he supervised his drivers at Daytona International Speedway on Friday evening, declined comment.(Associated Press)
also Roush Racing announced a major announcement with Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) executives; Red Sox
players and Roush Racing drivers on Wednesday, February 14 at 5:30pm/et(Roush Racing PR)(2-10-2007)

Negotiations progressing between Roush and Red Sox owner UPDATE 2: The negotiations in the sale of a portion of Roush Racing to Boston Red Sox owner John Henry's Fenway Sports Group are progressing well, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Saturday. Many of the major points have been agreed upon since the negotiations began in earnest in September. "The big principal points, that's all buttoned up," Smith said. "I think by the first of the year, we'll [know]. We're going along pretty fast. By Daytona for sure." One of those pieces involves what percentage of the racing organization the Fenway Sports Group will own. Jack Roush will not relinquish control of the team. "We have been open to being all the way up to equal [partners], but not more than equal [for them],"(SceneDaily.com)(11-19-2006)UPDATE: the [Red] Sox deal for a half-interest in Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR racing, is done. Reported price: $62 million. Formal announcement to follow.(at the bottom of a Boston Globe article)(1-5-2007)UPDATE 2: Jack Roush says his deal with the Fenway Sports Group is not complete, but his Roush Racing team has scheduled a "BIG" announcement Feb. 14 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. That would be an appropriate place for Roush to announce that he has partnered with FSG, the marketing arm of Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. Roush said the contracts are in the hands of the lawyers, and he would expect a decision by the end of March. He indicated that there could be a name change to the team. FSG has been negotiating with Roush for about the last five or six months. Roush said FSG's ownership role could be anywhere from 25 to 50%.(SceneDaily.com)(1-24-2007)UPDATE 3: The principal owner of the Boston Red Sox could close a deal next month to buy half of Roush Racing, one of the most prominent teams in NASCAR, officials said Wednesday. Negotiations between John Henry and Jack Roush , the owner of the racing team, are in their final stages, and if all goes well, details could be disclosed before the Daytona 500 race on Feb. 18 , said Mike Dee , the president of Fenway Sports Group , which handles Henry's non baseball sports ventures. That disclosure came hours after Roush told a group of reporters in Charlotte, N.C., that a deal was close and could be unveiled in Daytona on Feb. 14, comments that apparently caught the Red Sox off guard. "Obviously we're not going to refute what Jack said," Dee said in a telephone interview yesterday evening. "Our goal has always been to try to have this all completed by the start of the racing season, and racing season starts Feb. 18, so that would be consistent with the goal that we have been trying to work toward."(Boston Globe)(1-26-2007)

2006 News

Arby's to Sponsor Kenseth at Birstol:: The Arby's brand will be the primary sponsor of 13 races on Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford Busch Series entry beginning with the season opener at Daytona. Arby's also will appear as the primary sponsor on Kenseth's Nextel Cup Ford in the Spring 2007 race at Bristol Motor Speedway.(Roush Racing PR)(12-7-2006)

Wypall Wipers Crowns Crew Chief Champions: Wypall Wipers announced Robbie Reiser, Trip Bruce and Rick Ren as the winners of its 2006 Crew Chief Challenge. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge has been a season-long contest to determine the best crew chiefs in the garage. At the conclusion of each event in racing's top-three series, a panel of judges, including Tony Eury Sr.,
Director of Competition at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., a member of the local media and a Wypall Wipers representative, decided which crew chief did an outstanding job. It wasn't necessarily the crew chief that went to victory lane, but it was always the crew chief that made the biggest difference to his team. The crew chief in each series with the most weekly wins won top honors as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge spotlights the crew chief's efforts to get his team in Victory Lane.
Robbie Reiser, crew chief of the Nextel Cup Series #17 Roush Racing DeWalt Ford, earned Crew Chief of the Race accolades at five events this season, narrowly edging Kenny Francis, crew chief of the #9 Dodge Dealers Dodge, who won the award four times. Reiser received $20,000 as the Crew Chief of the Year.
Trip Bruce, crew chief of the Busch Series #9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger, won the Crew Chief of the Race award five times this season, beating out Shane Wilson, crew chief of the #21 Coast Guard Chevrolet, who picked up four wins. Bruce won $10,000 for his achievement.
Rick Ren, crew chief of the Craftsman Truck Series #23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota, won a close competition over Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief of the #30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota, for Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year honors. Ren won the Crew Chief of the Race award five times throughout 2006, earning a $10,000 grand prize as the champion.
Wypall Wipers will return in 2007 with its Crew Chief Challenge and continue to spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto Wypall.com.(11-27-2006)

Roush buys out Martin's share of #17 team: Jack Roush has bought Mark Martin's share of the #17 Nextel Cup team that Matt Kenseth drives. Martin is listed as the owner of the car, though it was Roush that sat at the head table with driver Matt Kenseth when the team won the 2003 championship, and it is the Roush Racing umbrella under which the team competes. Martin is leaving Roush after this season as he stops competing full time in NASCAR, at least for next season. Martin plans to share the Bobby Ginn-owned MB2 Motorsports #01 with rookie Regan Smith next season, with Martin driving in 22 races.(SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)

New Nextel Cup GM for Roush: Max Jones, who has led the Craftsman Truck and Busch series programs at Roush Racing the past two years, was named general manager of the Nextel Cup program yesterday.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-6-2006)

Crew Chief Changes Planned at Roush Racing: Jack Roush confirmed Sunday that a multi-team, crew chief shakeup is in the works in his five-team Nextel Cup operation [#'s6,16,17,26,99], but he said he hasn't decided which crew chiefs to pair with which drivers, though veteran Jimmy Fennig "might be a good choice" for David Ragan [in the #6] next season. Will Wally Brown be back as #99-Carl Edwards' crew chief? "That's one of our dream-team packages," Roush said. "Wally Brown is one of my heroes; he's done a great job. But his dad, in Pennsylvania, isn't doing well, and Wally is missing his dad, and we've been talking, and Wally may have a change in venue, and in his career. If we lose Wally, it would be a huge loss."(Winston Salem Journal)(10-23-2006)

Carhartt colors for the #17 at LMS: Matt Kenseth and the #17 team will be flying the Carhartt colors this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the third and final time in 2006.(Roush Racing PR), see an image on the #17 Team Schemes page.(10-11-2006)

Reiser on the move at Roush? Robbie Reiser, who has been #17-Matt Kenseth's crew chief since his debut in 1999, laughed over talk that he could become a general manager at Roush Racing. Not that he wouldn't want the job, but he knows that decision belongs to Jack Roush. "That's Matt Kenseth-Greg Biffle talking in the media program," Reiser said Oct. 8. "I've been hired to be a crew chief and that's what I do. That's a question you need to ask Jack. I can't answer that." Reiser won the Cup title in 2003 with Kenseth.(SceneDaily.com)AND Robbie Reiser could have a new role at Roush Racing in 2007, according to several drivers within the organization. It has been discussed that Reiser, who has been the crew chief for 2003 Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth since 1998, take on general manager position over all the teams. Reiser said that was a question for team owner Jack Roush, but admitted he is interested in such a position. Roush declined to comment.(NASCAR.com)(10-9-2006)

Kenseth to make 250th Cup start: When #17-Matt Kenseth takes the green flag in this Sunday's UAW-Ford 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway, he will be making the 250th Nextel Cup Series start of his nine-year career. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Champion, will become the 76th driver in NASCAR history to reach the milestone. Kenseth broke into the Cup Series in 1998 at Dover
International Speedway, where he drove to a sixth-place finish while filling in for #94-Bill Elliott. Together with crew chief and fellow Wisconsin native, Robbie Reiser, and car sponsor DEWALT, Kenseth made the leap into full-time competition in NASCAR's Cup division in 2000. That year, Kenseth became the only rookie ever to win the Coca-Cola 600, a victory that helped propel him to Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. In 2003, Kenseth brought car owner Jack Roush his first Cup Championship by claiming the final championship of the Winston Cup era. Since then, Kenseth has won the 2004 IROC Championship, won the 2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway and is one of only three drivers to have made NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup all three seasons.(Roush Racing PR)(10-3-2006)

More on the Roush Racing/Fenway Sports Group 'deal': Team owner Jack Roush said there is not yet an offer on the table from John Henry's Fenway Sports Group as the entity discusses buying into Roush Racing with team President Geoff Smith. Roush said Friday that he's not sure when the sides will next talk but added that's not out of the ordinary. "I don't do the money very well," Roush said with a smile at Dover International Speedway. "Right now, there are discussions going on. There's not a deal on the table. There may not be a deal that makes it to the table. What do I think the chances are that John Henry will become an investor in the Roush organization? On one day it looks like the glass is a little more than half full; on other days it looks like it's definitely [less] than half full. And I don't get a report every day on what's going on." Roush said talks are sometimes conducted via email, but added that several members of FSG were at the team's North Carolina shops prior to the race at New Hampshire. If an agreement is reached, Roush said he wouldn't sell more than 50 percent of the organization to Henry's FSG, which is a separate entity from the partnership that owns the Boston Red Sox. And he said this simply isn't a way to get around NASCAR's ownership rules, which will eventually limit him to fielding four full-time Nextel Cup Series teams. If an agreement were reached, Henry would be an investor in Roush Racing, not fielding teams under the Fenway Sports Group umbrella as a separate entity. "Our plan is to operate four NASCAR stock car racing teams past this decade," Roush said. "We think if I can spread my base and do an expanded marketing and sponsorship involvement program that would have a component of interest in the Northeast that we'd be stronger through that." Anyone thinking this is Roush's way of preparing to retire is mistaken according to the owner. "For anybody that thinks Jack is looking for a way to get off stage now, or in the foreseeable future or that retirement's my plan, just hide and watch [me]," he said. "I'm not going to retire. I'm not trying to back away from the races. I'm not trying to put somebody between me and the race teams. One of my challenges my managers have on the race teams is, 'How do we get Jack out of the way so we can do what we need to do.'"(SceneDaily.com)(9-23-2006)

Boston Red Sox owner in talks to buy part of Roush: While Roush Racing president Geoff Smith isn't sure where discussions with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group will lead, he doesn't envision a scenario in which Jack Roush would relinquish control of the operation. Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the summer, Smith said late Tuesday afternoon. He's not sure what percentage of the team - which competes in all three of NASCAR's national series - could be sold, if any, but expects one thing to remain the same. "I can't see Jack Roush giving up control of Roush Racing," Smith said. "I don't see that as an outcome." Roush and Henry, who heads the NESV partnership, have been friends for several years, sparking occasional rumors that Henry was looking to buy into Roush Racing. In the past, though, Smith said the two sides were just discussing marketing possibilities, not a sale. The two were seen together on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway and Roush Racing released a statement Tuesday that confirmed discussions about selling an interest in the team were ongoing.(in part from the SceneDaily.com)AND: According to multiple executives briefed on the negotiations, Fenway Sports Group is in talks to buy as much as 50 percent of privately held Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR, for something north of $50 million. No deal is imminent, these executives cautioned, and the negotiations, which have started and stopped before, could still falter. Both the Fenway Sports Group and Roush Racing confirmed the talks, but both said there is no agreement. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, called the Red Sox unit "attractive partners" because of its marketing capabilities, particularly in the Northeast. Said Mike Dee, president of Fenway Sports Group: "If these discussions are fruitful, we will be happy to talk about them."(in part from the Boston Globe)AND II: "Roush Racing confirms," said Geoff Smith president of Roush Racing, "It has entered into discussions to sell an interest in Roush Racing to Fenway Sports Group, Boston. Should these discussions ultimately materialize into a definitive agreement Roush Racing will provide further information on the topic."(Roush Racing PR)(9-19-2006)

Kenseth wins at Bristol: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 2nd consecutive win in the night race at Bristol [first driver to do so since Dale Earnhardt in 1987-88], his 4th win of 2006 [tied for the lead with Johnson & Kahne] and 14th of his career. #5-Kyle Busch finished 2nd, followed by #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #10-Scott Riggs, #24-Jeff Gordon, #11-Denny Hamlin, #99-Carl Edwards, #12-Ryan Newman, #31-Jeff Burton [led the most laps 263] and #48-Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth and Johnson have clinched a spot in The Chase, #2-Kurt Busch, the pole sitter, was involved in a wreck, then had transmission problems and finished 37th down 54 laps and has been eliminated from The Chase. #9-Kasey Kahne finished 12th and is now 90 points out of 10th and The Chase, the only driver with a realistic chance of making it in the top-10. There were 7 leaders with 18 lead changes and ONLY 10 cautions for 62 laps.Race Results on my Bristol Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Bristol pageRace Rundown: see my Bristol Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(8-26-2006)

Kenseth wins at Michigan: #17-Matt Kenseth won the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway for his 2nd win at the track, 3rd win of 2006 and 13th of his career. Kenseth led the most laps with 87 [of 200] dominating the 2nd half of the race. #24-Jeff Gordon finished 2nd, followed by #20-Tony Stewart, #9-Kasey Kahne, #6-Mark Martin, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.[who led 40 laps], #16-Greg Biffle, #41-Reed Sorenson, #11-Denny Hamlin and #19-Elliott Sadler [in his first race in the #19 and the first top 10 of the year for the team]. #38-David Gilliland lost a tire mid-race and finished 38th in his first run for Robert Yates Racing. Pole sitter #31-Jeff Burton came into the race 4th in points, never led a lap and lost an engine early to finish 42nd, dropping to 9th in points. #2-Kurt Busch wrecked twice, finishing 40th and out of the race and is pretty much out of the chase. #99-Carl Edwards ran strong all day, but something went amiss at the end of the race and he finished 22nd, pretty much ending his shot at the Chase. #9-Kasey Kahne finished 4th and picked up 5 points on 10th place #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 49 points out of 10th and pretty much the only driver not in the top 10 who have a chance to make it in The Chase. There were 11 leaders with 26 lead changes and a record 10 cautions for 36 laps.Race Results on my Michigan Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after MIchigan pageRace Rundown: see my Michigan Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(8-20-2006)

New Associate Sponsor for #17: Rinnai Corporation: DEWALT announced that Rinnai Corporation has joined its #17 racing team as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2006 Nextel Cup Series season. Based in Peachtree City, Ga., Rinnai is the world's largest gas appliance manufacturer offering a complete line of tankless water heaters, ductless heaters, fireplaces and cooking appliances. The Rinnai logo will be featured on the deck lid and, in selected races, the TV panel of Roush Racing's #17 DEWALT Ford Fusion driven by Matt Kenseth.. For more information about the Rinnai Corporation and the Rinnai tankless water heater product, visit www.foreverhotwater.com.(Roush Racing)(8-17-2006)

Gordon looking to talk with Kenseth: When #24-Jeff Gordon arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday, he said he was looking for #17-Matt Kenseth - and not just to push him out of the way like he did at the end of Sunday's race in Chicago. "I'd certainly like to see him before I leave here," Gordon said before the third day of testing began. "I was hoping just to see him here because I figured we'd all be here."(Associated Press)(7-13-2006)

USG Colors for Kenseth at Chicago: Kenseth's #17 Ford Fusion will carry the USG Sheetrock colors this weekend
in the USG Sheetrock 400. It marks the second of three times this season Kenseth will pilot the USG Sheetrock Ford; the first was at Bristol in March (finished third) and the last will be at Phoenix in November.(Roush Racing PR), see image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(7-4-2006)

Bires beats Kenseth and Stewart: On a night when 10,000 fans crammed around Madison International Speedway to see two of NASCAR's biggest names, not only did the stars put on a show but so did a comparative unknown who walked away with the victory Tuesday night at the All-Star Challenge. Kelly Bires, a 21-year-old from Mauston, won the 100-lap feature, fighting off a charge by Cambridge native Matt Kenseth during the final 11 laps. Bires' fastest lap around the half-mile oval was 18.252 seconds. Kenseth finished second. Bobby Wilberg was third. Tony Stewart, defending Nextel Cup champion, finished eighth but made perhaps the biggest jump in the field. He started 19th.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-28-2006)

Jack Roush Honored by Ford: Jack Roush received the highest honor Ford Motor Company can bestow on anyone in racing when he was presented with the Spirit of Ford Award in front of approximately 450 employees at Ford World Headquarters Thursday. Edsel B. Ford II made the presentation during a pep rally involving many of Ford's NASCAR drivers who will be competing in the Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck Series races at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Roush was hired as an engineer at Ford in 1964, but got the racing bug when he joined a group called 'The Fastbacks' two years later. The group was made up of Ford employees who competed in drag racing on weekends. Since then, Roush has won championships in all three of NASCAR's top divisions, including back-to-back Nextel Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. In addition, he has three Pro Stock drag racing championships, 24 road racing titles and 10 consecutive victories in the prestigious Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. The Spirit of Ford Award goes to a person who has made significant contributions on and off the track to the sport of auto racing. Other stock car recipients of the Spirit of Ford Award include: Bud Moore, the Wood Brothers, Junie Donlavey, Bill Elliott, Richard Petty, the France family, and Ned Jarrett.(Ford Racing)(6-16-2006)

Kenseth wins at Dover: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2006 and 12th of his 12th win of his career [ties with Newman for 30th overall]. Kenseth passed teammate #26-Jamie McMurray with 3 laps to go to gain the victory. McMurray held on to 2nd, followed by #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #5-Kyle Busch. #48-Jimmie Johnson fell off the lead lap early, spun once causing the 4th caution, but got back on the lead lap later by not pitting and wound up 6th, keeping the points lead by 74 over Kenseth. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran in the top 15 all day and ended up 10th. The win is Roush Racing's 92nd, tying the owner with Holman-Moody for 5th place overall. The win is the third for Ford, Kenseth has two and #16-Biffle has the other one. The pole sitter, #12-Ryan Newman, led 12 laps and finished 14th. There were 23 lead changes among 12 drivers and 9 cautions for 51 laps.Race Results on my Dover Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Dover page.Race Rundown: see my Dover Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(6-4-2006)

Kenseth running R&L Carriers colors at LMS: This Sunday, at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Matt Kenseth will pilot the yellow and green #17 R+L Carriers/DEWALT Ford Fusion. R+L Carriers joined Roush Racing in January as an associate sponsor on the #17 DEWALT team, but this weekend becomes the primary on the car driven by Kenseth. For the first time since 1997 R+L Carriers, the family owned trucking company out of Wilmington, Ohio, will be the primary sponsor on a car in NASCAR's top division. The Coca-Cola 600 marks the first of three races during the 2006 season in which R+L Carriers will serve as the primary sponsor for Kenseth and Roush Racing's #17 NEXTEL Cup team. The other two races are the July race at Daytona and the October race at Martinsville. Based out of Wilmington, Ohio, R+L Carriers is a family owned and operated company that with over 40 years of committed service to their customers, has grown to be one of today's leaders in the Less than Truckload (LTL) industry. With nearly 10,000 employees, R+L Carriers Inc. currently services 49 states, as well as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and all of Canada.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-26-2006)

Forbes: Roush Most Valuable: Forbes magazine says Roush Racing is currently the most valuable organization in NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch series competition, with a net worth the publication estimates at $218 million. In its June 5 edition, Forbes says Roush's five Cup and six Busch entries have lined up sponsorship estimated at $108 million this year and have earned $8.3 million on the track this season. Hendrick Motorsports ranks second with a value of $146 million for four Cup and two Busch entries. Forbes calculates the team's sponsorships are producing $77 million revenue this year. Joe Gibbs Racing ranks third ($103 million), followed by Richard Childress Racing ($100 million) and Chip Ganassi Racing ($79 million).(SceneDaily.com)(5-25-2006)

Matt Kenseth Educates, Paints with Dallas Area Kids: #17-Matt Kenseth took time out of his work schedule on Thursday morning at Texas Motor Speedway to visit with teenagers from Dallas / Ft. Worth area middle schools and after-school programs to teach them about teamwork, achievement, and the importance of making a difference in their community. The national educational initiative called 'Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Youth Program' is a partnership between Ameriquest Mortgage Company, non-profit organization Portraits of Hope and Roush Racing that bring together youth from schools, hospitals and after-school programs to
explore personal goals and societal issues through education and art. Portraits of Hope is an organization that develops creative projects
merging the healing arts with inspirational public art. Middle schoolers from Boles Jr. High School (Arlington), Dunbar 6th Grade Middle School (Ft. Worth) and Girl's Inc., a non-profit youth organization based in Arlington, participated in the program. As part of the interactive workshop, teens and Kenseth shared their creative expressions by creating murals replicating the shapes and colors depicted on Kenseth's #17 Ameriquest Soaring Dreams race car that he will drive in Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the second of four Ameriquest Soaring Dreams workshops and paint schemes this year. Last month in Bristol, Kenseth's teammate, Carl Edwards, participated in the Ameriquest Soaring Dreams workshop with a local high school. Mark Martin will do so later this month in Phoenix (Apr. 20) and Greg Biffle at Dover (May 30). Ameriquest Mortgage Company is the primary sponsor of four of Roush Racing's NBS teams in 2006, which includes Kenseth, Edwards, Martin and Biffle.(Alan Taylor Communications)(4-7-2006)

Kenseth: My Fault: Matt Kenseth disagreed with NASCAR's decision to fine Gordon $10,000 and place him on probation for shoving Kenseth at Bristol. "The deal was my fault," Kenseth said. "I made a mistake and I should have known better than to go over there and try to apologize."(Dallas Morning News)(4-1-2006)

Gordon push to be looked at by NASCAR: Although not giving as firm a statement as typical when penalties are imminent, NASCAR officials said they will review the Jeff Gordon shove of Matt Kenseth, which occurred on pit road after the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Sunday night that NASCAR will follow its typical procedure and review the incident in the next few days, probably Tuesday. Kenseth and Gordon were involved in a crash on the final lap, where Kenseth sent Gordon spinning. Kenseth went over to Gordon to apologize after the race, and Gordon shoved him away. "I would have been ticked off, too," Kenseth said. "I probably should have known better than to go over there, but I just think when you do something wrong, you should try to be a man about it and apologize." Both drivers and crew chiefs were called to the hauler after the race. "I'm sure he didn't mean to do it and all that stuff, but I wasn't happy about it," Gordon said. "I showed it to him after the race."(SceneDaily.com)(3-27-2006)

USG Scheme for #17 at Bristol: For the first of three times in 2006, Matt Kenseth will pilot the #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion. USG Sheetrock will also be the primary sponsor for the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in July and the November race at Phoenix International Raceway.(Roush Racing PR)(3-22-2006)

Kenseth comes from the back to win @ Calif: #17-Matt Kenseth took the lead late in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway after starting 31st with a green-white-checkered finish.. It is Kenseth's first win of 2006, first since Bristol last August and 11th of his career. #48-Jimmie Johnson backed up his Daytona 500 win with a 2nd place finish, followed by #99-Carl Edwards, #9-Kasey Kahne and #31-Jeff Burton. #16-Greg Biffle lead 168 laps until his engine let go, finishing 42nd. 2005 Nextel Cup champ, #20-Tony Stewart finished last [43rd] when his engine expired. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured 11th after being down a lap and getting a lucky dog pass. Johnson maintains the points lead, 39 points over #42-Casey Mears, who finished 7th. There were 7 cautions for 26 laps. There were 18 lead changes with 9 leaders.Race Results on my Daytona Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after California page.Race Rundown: see my California Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(2-26-2006)

Kenseth and Stewart...still no speak UPDATE speak: #17-Matt Kenseth says he has yet to hear from #20-Tony Stewart about last weekend's incident in the Daytona 500 that sent Kenseth into the wall. "I'm sure we'll talk eventually," Kenseth said Friday at California Speedway. "I don't feel like I need to go talk to him because I didn't feel I was in the wrong at all. Obviously, he does, but I don't feel like I did anything wrong." Stewart ran Kenseth into the grass in turn 3 last weekend. That came after Stewart said Kenseth nearly caused him to spin by taking the air off his spoiler earlier in the race. "He started the whole thing, and I finished it," Stewart said after last week's race. NASCAR penalized Stewart for aggressive driving after Kenseth hit the wall. Stewart had to restart at the rear of the field. Series officials did not talk to Stewart about his post-race comments this week and didn't plan to talk to him this weekend. Kenseth admits the incident has been difficult to forget. Kenseth ran well until the incident. He finished 15th; Stewart placed fifth.(Roanoke Times)(2-25-2006)UPDATE: Tony Stewart has had a busy weekend even before starting today's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway.
Stewart said he talked to Matt Kenseth about last week's incident at Daytona this weekend and spoke with Kyle Busch for about 90 minutes Friday night. Stewart was one of a few drivers who complained about Busch's aggressive driving at Daytona. Stewart was upset with Kenseth at Daytona after Stewart nearly spun while running underneath Kenseth. Later, Stewart ran Kenseth down the track and into the grass. Kenseth spun back up the track and hit the turn-3 wall. Stewart declined to reveal details of that conversation. "What we talk about is between Matt and me," Stewart said.(Roanoke Times)(2-26-2006)

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Kenseth signs multi-year deal with Roush: Matt Kenseth has signed a multi-year contract with Roush Racing to continue to drive the #17 DEWALT Ford. Kenseth and Roush Racing's relationship dates back to 1999. "We are very pleased that Matt extended his contract with Roush Racing last fall," said Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing. "Matt is one of the most talented drivers in the garage and he'll always hold a special place in our organization, having helped to bring us our first Cup championship in 2003. It's very assuring knowing that he will be staying on with us and I know that the first goal on his agenda is to take that championship trophy back."(Roush Racing PR), no terms mentioned.(1-27-2006)UPDATE: Terms were not disclosed, beyond the deal being described as "multi-year." Team owner Jack Roush has said he has driver and sponsor agreements for all five of his Nextel Cup cars until 2010 or beyond.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(1-28-2006)

Roush and NASCAR agree on downsizing: Five-Team Owner [#'s 6,16,17,26,99] Jack Roush said he and NASCAR have agreed on the basics of how to get his Nextel Cup team down to four cars, which was mandated by the sanctioning body late last season.
"We will go back to four teams, but it's not immediate," Roush said. "There is a cap of four [Cup teams]. I will comply with that when I'm past my commitments I have with drivers and sponsors. We've finally got an understanding of what is possible and what we can do."
Roush would not speculate on when his team might go back to four cars, but said his existing commitments expire between 2009 and 2011.(Ford Racing)(1-25-2006)

R+L Carriers to sponsor Kenseth in 3 races: #17-Matt Kenseth is scheduled to pilot the R+L Carriers Ford at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, the July race at Daytona and and Martinsville Speedway in Oct.(RacingOne), see an image there or on my #17 Team Schemes page.(1-3-2006)

2005 News

Roush Crew Chiefs all back in 2006: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Sunday that the team has re-signed all of five of its crew chiefs for 2006, although it has some unfilled crew vacancies remaining. Roush is one of the few teams that had no midseason crew chief turnover and return of its five team leaders should help the organization get off to a strong start next season.(Speed Channel)(11-21-2005)

Sad News: John Reiser, father of #17 crew chief Robbie Reiser and Matt Kenseth's long-time Busch Series car owner, has passed away. John had been battling cancer for the past few months. Sympathies are with his wife, Alice, and Robbie, and the rest of the family this weekend. More details when they have them.(Matt Kenseth site)(11-19-2005)

Changes at the #17, Kenseth not happy...and Get Well: Roush Racing's Matt Kenseth, who recently lost his spotter (Mike Califnoff) and car chief (Jeff Vandermoss left to take a crew chief gig at Ganassi #40 team) NOT his crew chief (Robbie Reiser), said poaching of race-team employees is worse this year then he's ever seen before. "I think we'll probably lose some people at the end of this year, probably more than we have before as a group at Roush Racing," said Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion. "That happens. Roush has been really successful over the last three years, winning a couple championships and having all five cars in the Chase. When that happens, you always have other teams come in and offer them a bunch more money than they would offer them if we were running 15th every week. This year, I've seen a lot more teams come in and try to raid us than in years past and they seem to be more successful than they have in years past."(Speed Channel)Get Well Robbie Reiser, the Nextel Cup crew chief for #17-Matt Kenseth, wasn't in Texas on Friday. He was in Wisconsin with his ailing father.(ESPN.com/AP)(11-5-2005)AND: Kenseth was without his crew chief, as Robbie Reiser was home with his ill father. "It's a lot different without Robbie being here," Matt Kenseth said. "I think it was hard for him to be away [Friday]. It's a little different group over there but Robbie's laid a great foundation, done a great job of organizing everybody, so even if you miss a person or two, everything keeps on right along."(NASCAR.com)(11-5-2005)

Kenseth's New Spotter: been told that Bob Jeffrey will be handling the spotter duties for #17-Matt Kenseth for the remainder of the 2005 season while the team looks to fill the position permanently for 2006. Jeffrey, who is actively being sought after by several
teams and drivers for the 2006 season, was voted the Best Spotter in NASCAR by The Sporting News in 2003 (the only year the publication conducted the "Best of NASCAR" poll). Jeffrey, who has been in NASCAR racing over 20 years, got his start in the Busch Series, where one of the first drivers he worked with was the late Dale Earnhardt and has worked with Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick and other drivers over the years.(10-29-2005)

New Crew chief for #40? hearing that #17 car chief, Jeff Vandermoss, will leave and take the #40 Ganassi Racing team crew chief gig for 2006 when David Stremme takes over.(10-24-2005)

Kenseth loses spotter after 2005 UPDATE: As #17-Matt Kenseth's spotter for the last six years, Mike Calinoff [stockcarcity.com] has experienced the highs and lows of NASCAR's top series. Certainly, Saturday night was the latest of milestones since he guided Matt to rookie-of-the-year honors in 2000. He was the "eyes in the sky" for the #17 Dewalt Ford when Matt delivered Jack Roush's long-awaited first title. But he's also witnessed the frustrations of maintaining a championship caliber team over the long haul. When the cars roll out at Daytona next February, Calinoff's unmistakable bass will be booming over #40-David Stremme's radio channel. In addition to his spotting duties, Calinoff will also oversee the day-to-day business aspects for the Ganassi Racing up-and-comer. There's an opportunity for growth with Ganassi, whereas the Roush spotter's gig didn't offer for the chance for advancement. And like any new relationship, Stremme's deal will be loaded with firsts -- first pole, first win and if Calinoff is lucky, a first title.(Sporting News)(9-1-2005)UPDATE: Sunday's Subway 500 at the Martinsville Speedway marked the final race of Mike Calinoff's six-year term as Matt Kenseth's spotter. The two mutually agreed that an early separation would afford Kenseth the time to audition a new spotter, and allow Calinoff the opportunity to begin handling the management chores for Rookie David Stremme. For the remainder of the season Calinoff, who was featured this weekend on NBC's Today Show, will serve as spotter for Reed Sorensen's Nextel Cup debut races in Atlanta and Texas, as well as Stremme's entry in Homestead and his remaining Busch Series events.(PR)(10-24-2005)

Busch not happy with Kenseth UPDATE: #97-Kurt Busch wasn't happy with his teammate, #17-Matt Kenseth, early in Sunday's race because he wouldn't let him lead a single lap - and gain five bonus points in the championship race. Kenseth said there are no company orders to help teammates, especially when that teammate is a competitor in the playoffs. "When you get in the Chase you've got to get all the points you can," Kenseth said. "You can't give points away. I'm sure (Busch) is mad at me." Jack Roush said he doesn't want his drivers to play favorites. "I don't expect them to do that," he said. "In fact, I'd be disappointed if they did that."(Augusta Chronicle)(10-10-2005)UPDATE: Matt Kenseth admits he should have allowed teammate Kurt Busch to pass him for the lead early in Sunday's race at Kansas so Busch could gain the five bonus points for leading a lap. Kenseth didn't do that and defended his actions over his team's radio.
"When it gets to the chase, we're all racing each other for the championship, and I'm not going to get beat by four points at the end of the year because I gave away a free five (points) somewhere," Kenseth said during the race. Tuesday, Kenseth changed his tune after talking with Busch and Busch's crew chief, Jimmy Fennig. "I think what I probably did wrong is when he was all over me, I probably should have let him lead a lap just because we were both abusing our cars. He ended up blowing a tire, and I ended up losing some track position because I was running so hard and my car didn't handle the way I thought it would and it ended up getting real tight. Things happen when you're in the car and the racer comes out in you, and that's what it's about is racing. I was looking behind me and I saw five (championship) chase cars behind me and I certainly didn't want everybody to get up there and get a bunch of points that they didn't have to."(Greensboro News and Record)(10-12-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: The Chase for the coveted NASCAR NEXTEL Cup continues, and so does your chance to win big. Fans who pick the correct finishing order of the Gillette Young Guns - Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Matt Kenseth - by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com during the first six races of the "Chase" will have the chance to win $1 Million and a trip to the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20. Each week provides fans with a new opportunity to win. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun at Talladega Superspeedway, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the sixth time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(10-9-2005)

Kenseth renegotiating with Roush: #17-Matt Kenseth was busy testing last week at Kansas and Charlotte, and while his immediate concern was working on his Busch setups, the 2003 Cup champion and his fellow Roush racers also have been thinking about the personnel turnover that will come at the end of this season. "Definitely people come at your good guys with money, especially during contract years," Kenseth says. "It's not as bad as the NFL yet, but that's all part of the sport. You have to audit your own system and keep up with incentives and keep up with the payroll because other teams will do what it takes to get your drivers and your crew members that they want." Kenseth is renegotiating his own contract but says, "I'm certainly planning on staying at Roush."(Sporting News)(10-5-2005)

Reiser Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award at New Hampshire: Matt Kenseth caught a bad break in
this weekend's Sylvania 300, literally. Following a routine stop for service, Kenseth's front brake locked up as he was exiting the pits and the driver of the # 17 DeWalt Ford was forced to plow around the track until he could reenter his stall. With crew chief Robbie Reiser
calling the shots, the crew fixed the problem and put Kenseth back in the hunt for a win. The team's rebound brought Kenseth a third-place finish and moved him ninth to fifth in the championship standings. For orchestrating his team's comeback, Reiser was awarded the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award.
"We got a lug nut caught between the hat and the rotor," said Reiser. "The guys do an awesome job each week and today was no different. They never gave up. They fixed the problem and got him (Kenseth) back in it. We followed that up with a two tire pit stop to get back the track position we lost and everything fell into place from there. The crew had stellar stops all day. Hopefully we can keep this string going over the next nine weeks."
"The DeWalt guys did a great job," said Reiser. "We had great pit stops. Came back from that problem and didn't really tear anything up
and were able to work our way back through there through pit strategy and having a good car. It feels good to come here and get a good
finish and I look forward to going to Dover." The panel of voters; including Chuck Givler of the Easton Express-Times, a Wypall Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr.; voted for Reiser as the crew chief who did the most outstanding job.
Doug Richert leads the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson is in second place with three wins. Bob Osborne, Jimmy Fennig, Greg Zipadelli, Robbie Reiser and Robbie Loomis are tied for third place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Greg Erwin, Slugger Labbe and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for fourth place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. Fans can also vote for their choice at wypall.com.(SMC 500)(9-19-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Sony HD 500 at Fontana, CA, on September 4, Sue K. of Cottonwood, AZ, was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Sue picked Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the fifth time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Comminications)(9-9-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 27, Linda H. of Paducah, KY was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Linda picked Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly
deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC)
on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the fourth time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(9-1-2005)

Kenseth dominates in win at Bristol: #17-Matt Kenseth won the Sharpie 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway, dominating the race by leading 415 of 500 laps and vaulting himself into 11th in Drivers Points, only 11 points out of 10th. The win is Kenseth's first in 56 races, when he won at Las Vegas in March 2004. The win is the 10th of his career. #31-Jeff Burton was 2nd, his best finish since his 3rd at Phoenix in April. The rest of the top-5 were #16-Greg Biffle, who was a lap down and got the lucky dog, #21-Ricky Rudd and #2-Rusty Wallace. Points leader, #20-Tony Stewart lingered around 15-20th most of the race, but was able to come home 8th and increased his points lead to 213 points over #48-Jimmie Johnson who DNF'd with a broken motor. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. went down a lap three times, got the lucky dog all three times and after the crew made numerous changes, Dale Jr. finished 9th. #24-Jeff Gordon finished 6th and is now 10th in the points and currently in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, leading 11th in points #17-Kenseth by 11 points. #88-Dale Jarrett let his emotions get the best of him and took out #12-Ryan Newman, along with himself and innocent #29-Kevin Harvick [who should had followed #25-Vickers thru the wreck]. Newman had spun Jarrett a few laps before and Jarrett caught up to Newman a few laps later and hit Newman in the rear, spinning both, pretty much killing Harvick's chance of making The Chase and really hurting Jarrett's chance. Newman is still in the Chase, in 9th. #0-Mike Bliss made a late race charge, after getting spun out in the Jarrett/Harvick mess and getting a Lucky Dog, finishing 7th for his best finish of the season.
For my race rundown with lap leaders, caution info, race notes and lucky dogs, see my Bristol Race Info/Rundown Page
For race results and links, see Jayski's Bristol Race Results Page.
(8-27-2005)

Reiser Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award at Bristol: Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser brought a new meaning to the word dominance this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kenseth not only sat on the pole for the Sharpie 500, but led 415 of 500 laps before the #17 DeWalt Ford took the checkered flag. For sweeping the weekend, Reiser was voted the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Kenseth's victory snapped a 57 week winless streak and put the 2003 champ back in the thick of the Chase for the Nextel Cup. He currently sits 11th the championship standings, only eleven points out of 10th. "This team hasn't run that well this year, but the last couple of weeks it's really been coming around," said Reiser. "These guys have stuck to it and I don't have one guy that has spent the season complaining. They've pretty much just gone to work. The last two months have been real strong for this team and these guys are behind it 100 percent. I think when everybody had written us out of the chase that was more than a challenge than anything else and they wanted to step up to the challenge and turn the thing around. There are a lot of guys on the 17 (team) that have been there a long time and those guys have a lot of pride and they aren't going to go down without a fight."
The panel of voters; including Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal, a WYPALL Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr.; all cast
their vote for Robbie Reiser as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Doug Richert leads the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson, Bob Osborne, Greg Zipadelli and Robbie Loomis are tied for second place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Jimmy Fennig, Greg Erwin, Slugger Labbe, Robbie Reiser and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for third place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. Fans can also vote for their choice at wypall.com.(SMC 500)(8-29-2005)

Kenseth to renew with Roush? #17-Matt Kenseth, after watching all the fallout from other driver negotiations the past few weeks, is expected to quickly sign a contract renewal with car owner Jack Roush.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-27-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 21, Rita J. of Toledo, OH was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Rita picked Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and
entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Kenseth. This is the second time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(8-25-2005)

Kenseth staying at Roush? #17-Matt Kenseth, whose name has been in the news lately too about possibly moving on? "We have a great sponsor in DeWalt, that has been with him a long time, and I really have difficult seeing Matt turn his back on a sponsor that has built his career," Smith said. "I believe Matt is very happy being with us. The economic piece is there, and the competitive piece is there, so the expectation is there wouldn't be a switch."

Kenseth to the #11? Word is that #17-Matt Kenseth, whose contract with Roush Racing is up at the end of 2006, may be under consideration for a ride with Joe Gibbs in Gibbs' third [#11Chevy ] team, which has struggled this season, despite hefty sponsorship from FedEx.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-21-2005)

Gillette Young Guns - Weekly Update: By picking #17-Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 7th, Tony E. of Sussex, WI was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. Tony picked Matt Kenseth as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Matt Kenseth. This is the first time this year that a donation in Kenseth's name has been made to the NPCC.(Alan Taylor Communications)(8-11-2005)

Kenseth and Penske? Busch? Rumors persist that Roush Racing's Matt Kenseth is the top choice to replace Rusty Wallace, who's retiring, in the #2 Penske Racing car. Sources say Kenseth is sponsor Miller Brewing Co.'s first choice. Plus, Kenseth and his wife, Katie, are good friends of Penske driver Ryan Newman.(Sporting News)BUT: ....there were reports yesterday that Roger Penske had indeed approached Jack Roush with an offer of some sort for Kenseth, but that Roush had dismissed it out of hand. Penske continues to decline comment on his driver search. Is Kenseth's contract for sale? "Absolutely not," Roush Racing's Geoff Smith said. However, Smith said he hasn't had an opportunity yet to talk with Kenseth about the Penske report. "I've been traveling around on sponsorship business, and I've been trying to track him down to ask him," Smith said. Smith says he's confident that Kenseth will remain with Roush: "Matt is very happy about being at Roush Racing, and we've had some discussions about going forward." Kenseth's contract with Roush runs through the end of 2006, and Smith says he is working on a long-term renewal. Penske is down to two men in his search for a driver to replace Rusty Wallace next season. Penske will make his announcement by Sept. 1.(Winston Salem Journal), also hearing it could be Busch, but he is signed thru 2006.(8-8-2005)

DEI has a driver for the #15...if NAPA stays UPDATE 2 Denials: If Dale Earnhardt Inc. [DEI] can keep NAPA as a sponsor for a third car next season, an already topsy-turvy "Silly Season" could get even wilder. DEI Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said yesterday the team is negotiating with the auto-parts supplier about staying with the #15 being vacated by Michael Waltrip after 2005. Gilmore said DEI already has lined up a driver to team with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. for the 2006 Nextel Cup season. Gilmore wouldn't disclose a name but said it was someone prominent on another race team "that's been on our wish list for some time."
"[NAPA] has some options with us, Michael and some other race teams," Gilmore said. "We've put about a two-week window on it where they've got to make the decision and we've got to make a decision and go forward. But we have a driver kind of laid out, and everything laid out."(Richmond Times Dispatch)MORE: The rumor mill says Matt Kenseth [#17 DeWalt Ford, contract thru 2006] will be leaving the Roush stable soon and that a spot at DEI [#15?] may be in his future.(RacingOne)(8-5-2005)UPDATE: DEI's bid to hold sponsor NAPA to field a third team next season hinges on DEI's signing one particular, unnamed driver, which DEI executives yesterday said they didn't expect to happen. Earnhardt said he hopes to have a third team running next season, "But we don't know quite what we're going to do with that team." NAPA could stay with Michael Waltrip, who is finishing his DEI contract, and that could mean Waltrip would be able to field his own Cup team next season.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-6-2005)UPDATE 2 - Denials: #17-Matt Kenseth and #41-Casey Mears on Saturday denied recent speculation that they would leave their respective teams in favor of driving the #15 Chevrolet at Dale Earnhardt Inc. "Am I going to DEI? No," Kenseth said following Nextel Cup Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'm happy at Roush Racing."
"I'll say right now I'm 99.9 percent sure I'm going to be with Ganassi next year," Mears said. "We had a meeting a few days ago and everything looks real positive to do something for next year, and right now we're 100 percent effort to try to make something happen for here, next year, for Ganassi. Without making any announcements, we're trying to put things together for here at Ganassi."(NASCAR.com)(8-7-2005)

McMurray wants Truce with Kenseth: #42-Jamie McMurray is ready to put an end to his three-week feud with #17-Matt Kenseth. McMurray was livid at Kenseth after being knocked out of a race three weeks ago at Loudon, N.H., and refused to return Kenseth's phone calls. They are due to become teammates when McMurray replaces Mark Martin at Roush Racing in 2007. Perhaps sitting in the rain all day Friday finally cooled McMurray off. "I need to find Matt this weekend and get it all worked out. It doesn't do any good to let it go on," he said. "It's probably somewhat my fault. I didn't call him back (because) I didn't really know what to say at the time. I'm over it."(Indianapolis Star)(8-6-2005)

Sad News: Helmer Ellsworth Kenseth, age 96, of Cambridge, died on Wednesday, July 27, 2005, at his home. Helmer was born in Cambridge on April 16, 1909, son of Martin and Hilda (England) Kenseth. Kenseth was Matt Kenseth's grandfather. Kenseth driver the #17 DeWalt Ford for Roush Racing in the Nextel Cup Series. Those wishing to express their sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Willerup United Methodist Church. Nitardy Funeral Home, Cambridge, is assisting the family. See full obit for info and services at the Capital Times.(7-29-2005)

Congrats: Congrats to Mike Calinoff and Jenn Kovach on their marriage this past Friday night in Pocono. Family and friends celebrated with them at the Chateau Resort in Tannersville, PA. Mike is the spotter for #17-Matt Kenseth and David Stremme, while Jenn handles the marketing and public relations for CitiFinancial at Robert Yates Racing. The couple is honeymooning in Montego Bay Jamaica.(2-25-2005)

Kenseth not happy about new teammate? Speaking of Roush drivers, 2003 champion Matt Kenseth, who wrecked McMurray at New Hampshire, said on Sunday's TNT prerace show from Pocono that he might be teammates with Mac in 2007 and he might not [and he said cause his contract runs out at the end of 2006]. Kenseth wasn't happy to learn about McMurray's future arrival at Roush on the Internet.(Sporting News)(7-25-2005)

Kenseth to stay at Roush: #17-Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champ, has no plans to move. Expect him to get his next contract with Roush Racing locked down early. Kenseth, who finished second on Sunday (his best finish of the season), reportedly is signed through the 2006 season and has no plans to change teams. "We've never had any problems," Kenseth says. "Roush has always been fair to me, and I feel like I've done the same thing. They've done great things for my career, and I can't imagine racing anywhere else."(Sporting News)(7-11-2005)

#200 for Kesneth: #17-Matt Kenseth will start his 200th career Nextel Cup race this weekend at Infineon Raceway.(6-21-2005)

Roush 2006 lineup complete.....almost: Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said Friday that the Roush lineup for 2006 is all but complete, with sponsors and drivers for four of its five Nextel Cup cars showing no major changes. DeWalt will return to Matt Kenseth's #17, National Guard/Subway/etc. to Greg Biffle's #16, Rubbermaid/Smirnoff and others with Kurt Busch's #97, and all races accounted for with Carl Edwards's #99. The million-dollar question, of course, has been who will take over for retiring veteran Mark Martin in the flagship #6. Sponsor Pfizer will leave after this season, as has been known for weeks, but Smith said the sponsor issue is more a matter of placing the right company with the right driver. Smith continues to hint that Jon Wood, still under contract with Roush while driving on loan in the Busch Series, could be the front-runner for the job. "We have at least one sponsor who is very interested in Jon," Smith said. Smith also dismissed reports that Valvoline, one-time primary sponsor of Martin and the #6, could return as sponsor of Martin's Roush-backed Craftsman Truck effort next season. Smith said Roush Racing has a company-wide supplier agreement with Quaker State [Pennzoil], and that such a nostalgic coupling would not be possible.(Ford Racing)(6-18-2005)

#8 Crew Chief Candidates: The two men most prominently mentioned yesterday as candidates [to be #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new crew chief] were Jimmy Elledge, who is Earnhardt's brother-in-law [married to Kelley] and also crew chief for Chip Ganassi and #41-Casey Mears, and Robbie Reiser, crew chief for 2003 champion #17-Matt Kenseth and owner Jack Roush.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-27-2005)

Kenseth changes scheme for Darlington: #17-Matt Kenseth will be running a special paint scheme this weekend in
the Darlington Cup race. The #17 will be sporting the copper and black colors of Carhartt. This is the first of three races in which the #17 will be sporting the Carhartt paint scheme. The other two are Michigan in June and Lowe's Motor Speedway in October.(Roush Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(5-3-3005)

Jeff Gordon, Newman and Kenseth to test at Indy UPDATE: #24-Jeff Gordon is scheduled to begin preparations today for what could be a historic victory in August at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The four-time Brickyard 400 champion is representing Chevrolet in a closed two-day tire test at the Speedway. He'll be joined by Ryan Newman (Dodge) and Matt Kenseth (Ford) as Goodyear checks to see how its new, softer tire compounds fare on Indy's newly paved surface. All the teams can be expected to test at the Speedway either before or after the Nextel Cup race July 10 at Chicagoland Speedway. The sessions are scheduled July 5-6 and 11-12. Rain is in the forecast for today, which could disrupt a test already postponed once. It was pushed back to allow for grinding of the track after a Firestone test in preparation for the Indianapolis 500 produced unusual tire wear. A subsequent Firestone test indicated the grinding had done its job.(Indianapolis Star)(4-26-2005)UPDATE: Goodyear will attempt -- again -- to hold its NASCAR tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway today after Tuesday's session was rained out. The tire manufacturer postponed a similar session earlier this month when the track's surface was being grinded. Today's test is closed to the public.(Indianapolis Star)(4-26-2005)

Seven Drivers in Tylenol Spots: Johnson & Johnson has signed endorsement deals with seven Nextel Cup drivers to promote the launch of Tylenol's Extra Strength Rapid Release Gels, Street & Smiths's SportsBusiness Journal reports. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler make up Team Tylenol. The campaign will include television ads during race broadcasts and sponsorship at 11 tracks. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon are scheduled to be featured on packages of the product sold during the third quarter of the year. Exact financial terms of the deal were not reported, but the story by Terry Lefton says the entire campaign is "an eight-figure investment."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-8-2005)

Matt's streak ends: #17-Matt Kenseth's streak of 71 races inside the points standings' top 10, which dated to the March 2003 race at Atlanta, ended with an engine failure and 42nd-place finish at Daytona.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-21-2005)

Roush and Red Sox rumor resurfaces: Roush Racing executives have been working with their counterparts in the Boston Red Sox front office on ways to tap into the New England fan market. Possible alliances include a Red Sox paint scheme and Roush-themed television shows on the team's regional cable network. "I'm hoping to find out a way to affiliate our teams more closely with the Red Sox," Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said. Smith said Red Sox majority owner John Henry is a "semiprofessional" computer race car driver, playing the same sophisticated online racing simulator game that drivers such as Earnhardt play when they aren't racing. The Roush team brought Henry to a race at New Hampshire International Speedway last year, leading to rumors Roush would sell a stake in his team to Henry. But Smith said beyond the two teams' marketing plans, "there is nothing on the table." Smith doesn't rule out the team possibly entering a partnership.(USA Today)(2-18-2005)

Young Guns back: After a highly successful 2004 season, the Gillette Young Guns are kicking the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series into high gear with new sweepstakes and consumer promotions that will give fans and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) the chance to win prizes ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. The Gillette Young Guns - #97-Kurt Busch, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #29-Kevin Harvick, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #17-Matt Kenseth and #12-Ryan Newman - dominated their inaugural 2004 season, winning over 50 percent of the 36 Cup races. Busch won the 2004 championship, followed by fellow Young Guns Johnson and Earnhardt Jr., who finished second and fifth in the final points standings, respectively. Newman and Kenseth finished in seventh and eighth place, respectively, and Harvick finished 14th overall for the season. Collectively the Young Guns won 22 of the 36 races in 2004, claimed 70 top-fives and 109 top-10 finishes along the way. Gillette will again leverage these drivers and its NASCAR sponsorship with a comprehensive marketing communications program on several levels throughout the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. The program includes consumer promotions and retail events, a national "Watch
& Win" consumer sweepstakes, dedicated NASCAR print and broadcasting advertising, licensing, interactive on-line consumer promotions, charitable contributions and hospitality. Consumers can celebrate the beginning of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season with the Gillette Young Guns $1 Million Watch & Win Sweepstakes. If the year end Chase for the NEXTEL Cup isn't exciting enough, consumers will have the opportunity to win big by following the Gillette Young Guns over six of the last seven races of the season. By correctly predicting the finishing order of the six Young Guns for each race, fans will automatically be entered into a points race of their own. One lucky fan that wins this unique points race will win a trip for two to the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami and the chance to win up to $1 million. Cnsumers also will be able to register online to predict the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun prior to each of this season's 36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events. Each week, all correct entrants will be automatically entered in a drawing for a $5,000 prize. More info on my Racing Contests page or at www.gilletteyoungguns.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(2-11-2005)

USG to the #17 UPDATE: nothing official, but looks like USG will leave the #01 MB2 Motorsports team and go to #17-Matt Kenseth, running the USG scheme at the races at Californinia in February, The Brickyard 400 and Atlanta in the fall. See an image of the car on my 2005 #17 Paint Schemes page.(11-18-2004)UPDATE: USG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of building materials, including the renowned Sheetrock Brand, announced that its 2005 NASCAR program will include a new partnership with DeWalt Racing, Roush Racing and champion driver Matt Kenseth. USG Sheetrock Brand will be a primary sponsor on Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford Taurus at three Nextel Cup races -- Feb. 27 at Fontana, Calif., Aug. 7 at Indianapolis and Oct. 30 at Atlanta. At all of the other 2005 Cup races, USG SHEETROCK will assume a major associate sponsorship role on the DeWalt Ford, owned by Roush Racing. USG will continue as a NASCAR promotional partner in 2005 with the "USG Improving The Finish" contingency award at each of the 36 Nextel Cup point races and as a sponsor of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The USG Improving The Finish award will pay $5,000 at each race to the driver who gains the most places from the opening green flag to the closing checkered flag. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, the driver who earns the most USG Improving The Finish points will be awarded a $100,000 bonus. USG will sponsor "USG Night at the Races" at 26 local tracks that are part of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The events are intended to provide customers an opportunity to enjoy an evening of stock car racing. USG Corporation, based in Chicago, is a Fortune 500 company with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their key product groups: gypsum wallboard, joint compound and related gypsum products; cement board; gypsum fiber panels; ceiling panels and grid; and building products distribution. For more information about USG Corporation, visit the USG home page at www.usg.com.(Roush Racing PR)(1-26-2005)

IROC 2005 UPDATE 2 the drivers: there will be an announcement at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, Jan. 19th to announce the 2005 IROC [International Race of Champions - www.irocracing.com] drivers and new paint schemes for the four race 2005 season. Expect 5-6 Nextel Cup drivers, the Busch Champ [Truex Jr.], Truck Series champ [Hamilton] a few IRL, WoO drivers nad maybe a surprise or two. The 2005 Crown Royal IROC Series will feature 12 drivers from different forms of auto racing in equally prepared cars. The 2005 driver field will consist of seven drivers who captured their respective series championship in 2004 [Busch, Truex Jr., Hamilton, Kanan, Kinser, Kenseth (IROC) and ?]. This year's Crown Royal IROC Series champion will take home a $1 million first-place purse. Also for info on 2004, see my 2004 IROC page.(1-17-2005)UPDATE the drivers: the following drivers will run the 2005 IROC Series:Matt Kenseth - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Crown Royal IROC champion)
Kurt Busch - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Series champion)
Mark Martin - NASCAR Nextel Cup (4-time Crown Royal IROC champion)
Sebastien Bourdais - CHAMP CAR (2004 Series champion)
Bobby Hamilton NASCAR - Craftsman Truck (2004 Series champion)
Steve Kinser - World of Outlaws (2004 Series champion)
Max Papis - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Scott Pruett - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Martin Truex Jr. - NASCAR Busch Series (2004 Series champion)
Helio Castroneves - IRL IndyCar Series (2-time Indianapolis 500 champion)
Buddy Rice - IRL IndyCar Series (2004 Indianapolis 500 champion)
Danny Lasoski - World of Outlaws (2001 Series champion)(1-18-2005)UPDATE 2: Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) officials have announced the driver field for the 2005 Crown Royal IROC Series. The invitational series will feature 12 champion drivers from different forms of auto racing, including seven drivers who won their respective series titles in 2004. The Crown Royal IROC Series will kick off its 29th season on Friday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Following the season opener, the series will shift to Texas Motor Speedway (April 15), followed by Richmond International Raceway (September 8) and conclude at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (October 29).(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(1-19-2005)IMAGE: see an image of the 2005 IROC car on my 2005 Paint Schemes page.(1-20-2005)

Some Crew Changes: Chief engineer Chad Walters is the latest to defect from Dale Earnhardt Inc. Walters, who worked with former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Gary DeHart on Terry Labonte's #5, will bring his expertise back to Hendrick and the #5, which will be driven by Kyle Busch. Ed Young, who was the shop foreman for Matt Kenseth's #17 team, has left Roush Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing. Justin Nottestad, who also is Kenseth's front tire changer, will take over Young's duties.(FoxSports)(1-10-2005)

2004 News

Ford Racing enters the Daytona Rolex 24 with Busch, Kenseth, Biffle: The new Crown Royal Special Reserve/Multimatic Ford entry in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the twice-around-the-clock road racing classic Feb. 5-6, 2005, will feature three NASCAR champion drivers from Ford and Roush Racing: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch, 2003 NASCAR Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, and NASCAR Busch (2002) and Craftsman Truck (2000) Champion Greg Biffle. The three Roush Racing Ford pilots will be joined by Multimatic Ford driver Scott Maxwell, who has won six professional road racing championships in his career, but may be best known for his victories in both the 24 Hours of LeMans and the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The potent foursome will look to capture an overall victory in the 2005 season-opener of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, it was announced today. "It's a dream team, that's for sure," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. "We started talking last summer about getting a chance to put this type of team together for the Rolex 24, and because of the cooperation of Roush Racing, Multimatic, and Crown Royal Special Reserve, we have an effort and a class of drivers that will be able to make a run for the overall win." The Crown Royal Special Reserve Multimatic Ford is an updated version of the race car that won the Daytona Prototype class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2003. A Ford Modular Cammer V-8 motor prepared by Roush-Yates Engines will power it.
(Ford Racing PR)(12-21-2004)

Crew Changes at the #17: #17-Matt Kenseth fell from last year's title to eighth this year, and his crew will be overhauled. At least five crew members are expected to either come off the road or change teams completely, but owner Jack Roush says he won't do any crew swapping in the off-season. "Some of the people have had their jobs for a long time, and Robbie (Reiser, crew chief) is going to reassess the motivation and capabilities, both the physical attributes and the mental attitudes, of everybody," Roush says. Some will be reassigned, and others will move on.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-22-2004)

Sad News: Jessica Renee Hunley, 16, daughter or Roush Racing's Chris Hunley, was killed in a single car accident Thursday night. She went to North Davidson High School in Welcome, NC where she was a junior and a softball player. Family and friend visitation will be Sunday the 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Davidson Funeral home located at: 858 Hickory Tree Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27127. There will be a private Funeral service held on Monday. Memorials may be directed to the North Davidson High School softball team, 7227 Old Highway 52, Lexington, N.C. 27295(11-13-2004)

Diageo Announces Relationship with NASCAR UPDATE: Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, today announced one of the company's spirits brands would participate in NASCAR for the first time ever beginning with the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Earlier today, NASCAR announced spirits companies would be allowed to participate as team sponsors and that Diageo would lead the spirits category's entry into the sport. Diageo, which has a history in NASCAR with its flavored malt beverage brand Smirnoff ICE, will utilize its new sponsorship in NASCAR to continue to educate consumers about the importance of responsible drinking. Diageo's sponsorship, which will feature the Crown Royal brand, will be built around the company's existing relationship with Roush Racing, one of the premier racing teams in all of motorsports with over 280 wins and 30 championships. In 2003, Smirnoff ICE partnered with Roush Racing as an associate sponsor of the #17 car, driven by Matt Kenseth, which won the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. That associate level sponsorship has continued throughout the 2004 season. In addition to the Smirnoff ICE sponsorship in NASCAR, Diageo has a presence in motorsports with the Crown Royal International Race of Champions Series. The Crown Royal IROC Series, which is an invitational series matching 12 championship drivers from different disciplines of auto racing, was captured in 2004 by Matt Kenseth. For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR), doesn't say what team they will be with, but #97-Busch gets the Smirnoff Ice sponsorship.(11-11-2004)UPDATE to the #99?: Shortly after NASCAR president Mike Helton announced that the sanctioning body was lifting its ban on sponsorships by hard-liquor distillers, Diageo announced that it would sponsor a Roush Racing car next season featuring its Crown Royal brand. The sponsorship likely will go to Roush's #99 Ford, which is driven by Carl Edwards. Crown Royal also sponsors the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.(Las Vegas Sun)(11-13-2004)

Smirnoff Ice to the #97 in 2005: Smirnoff Ice, Diageo's malt beverage product, will move from Roush Racing's #17 and Matt Kenseth to the #97 of Kurt Busch in 2005.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Smirnoff Ice has been the primary in a handfull of Cup races on the #17, no idea how many races Smirnoff Ice will be on the #97 as a primary in 2005.(10-17-2004)

Roush to be honored in his hometown: Adams County [Ohio] native Jack Roush will again be honored at his hometown of Manchester, OH on Sunday, Oct. 17. A full day of activities are being planned with a cruise-in, auto parade, food, games, raffles and split the pot. All proceeds will benefit the Manchester Christmas Light Fund. The events start at noon with a home-cooked meal with Roush at the community building. Also at noon, a fall festival honoring Jack will start at the River Barn on U.S. 52 where all the activities of the day will be held. At that time, there will be a gospel lunch, a cruise-in and games for the children. Line-up for the automobile parade, with Roush as Grand Marshall, is at 1 p.m. at Brown Hill Road. The parade will proceed down Jack Roush Way, west on U.S. 52 to the Riverbarn.
The first annual Jack Roush Car Show will be held at the Riverbarn beginning at 8 a.m. with judging at 10:30 a.m. and trophies awarded at 11:15 a.m. Free dash plaques will be awarded to all show cars. Entry fee is $10.
After the grand parade, Roush will host an autograph signing until 4 p.m. An auction, featuring many special race items, will begin at 3 p.m., at which time the winners of the car show will be announced as well as raffle winners.(People's Defender)(10-16-2004)

New Associate for Kenseth: Trex Company, manufacturer of TrexR decking and railing, announced today that they are becoming an associate team sponsor in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for the 2005 racing season. Trex Co. will partner with DEWALT Tools, the primary sponsor, for a series of 38 racing events, including two non-point special events during the year. The companies will sponsor the #17 car driven by Matt Kenseth, as the two building products industry leaders share the spotlight with car logos and promotional events throughout the racing season. For the Spring Atlanta race, Trex decking will have the opportunity to
be the primary sponsor of the car, to be referenced as the #17 Trex Ford. Trex Co. will also be featured in DEWALT's Rolling Thunder 6,400 sq. ft. trackside pavilion which features product demos, driver guest appearances, entertainment and give-aways. Rolling Thunder is DEWALT's mobile display and entertainment unit that travels to selected race markets. Trex decking and railing is a splinter-free, weather-resistant decking lumber available at more than 3,300 lumber dealer locations in the U.S. and Canada. For an authorized Trex dealer or TrexProT contractor near you, call 1-800- BUY-TREX (289-8739) or visit the Trex Co. website at www.trex.com.(PR), looking to have a new deck built at my place in Mooresville and plan on looking into Trex.(Mercury Marketing / Trex PR)(10-14-2004)

Next win for Roush is #300: Roush Racing is going after its 300th victory this weekend in Kansas City. Founded in 1984, Roush Racing has 299 victories in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and road
course events (IMSA, SCCA)(Roush Racing PR)(10-6-2004)

Free Saws: - As the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series heads to the most brutal arena on the circuit this weekend, otherwise known as Bristol Motor Speedway, DEWALT Tools is set to hand out some gifts that may come in handy during the race. As part of their new product launch, DEWALT will be gifting each and every Nextel Cup crew chief with their brand new 18-Volt XRP Reciprocating Saw. The saws will be delivered via UPS Trackside on Friday morning at Bristol. This newer version is the most powerful reciprocating saw on the market, capable of turning 2,900 strokes per minute in a one-inch stroke length. According to Pete Morris, the Cordless Product Manager of DEWALT, the saws have an applicable duty on pit road.(Roush Racing PR)(8-25-2004)

Roush helps the Boy Scouts: Multi-team owner, Jack Roush, is the latest in a long line of NASCAR dignitaries to grace the 14th annual MIS/NASCAR Boy Scout Benefit dinner that raises funds for the Great Sauk Trail of the Boy Scouts. The Great Sauk Trail covers six counties, Jackson [MI] included, and has benefited to the tune of $994,000 in the 13 previous events at MIS. The events raise much of the money through an auction of items donated by NASCAR and other organizations and auctioned off by racing legend Benny Parsons. Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Roger Penske have also been featured guests at the event, which typically attracts a number of NASCAR drivers. The benefit dinner also will contribute funds to Kyle and Pattie Petty Victory Junction Gang Camp, and the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports. But the big winners of the night were the Boy Scouts, especially the two Eagle Scouts who were awarded $10,000 scholarships. Sixteen high school graduates have been awarded scholarships since 1997, and Christopher Zavicar of Onsted and Mark Spencer of Ypsilanti were the latest recipients.(Jackson Citizen Patriot)(8-21-2004)

Kenseth's Father no longer promotor at Madison track: For the most part, Roy Kenseth and Terry Kunes have patched up their differences and have agreed to disagree. But that doesn't change the fact that Kenseth is out as promoter at Madison International Speedway -- a position track owner Kunes will take over for the remainder of the season. Kenseth, who is the father of defending NASCAR Cup champion Matt Kenseth, was hired shortly after Kunes purchased the track in November of 2002. Kenseth was instrumental in organizing several successful events at MIS, and brought Matt in on four occasions to participate in races which drew thousands of spectators in 2003 and 2004. Kenseth said he will promote two to three races next year which will feature Matt, and he is in discussions with organizers at The Milwaukee Mile, Dells Motor Speedway, Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna and La Crosse Motor Speedway about their interest in hosting a late-model event.(Capital Times)(8-17-2004)

Kenseth's Backup deal: Matt Kenseth called it a dumb mistake, like someone running into a door backing out of their garage. He wrecked his primary #17 Ford in practice Friday and had to go to a backup when he hit the wall near pit road. He qualified 15th. "I just wasn't paying attention," Kenseth said. "I just hit the corner of the wall [on the entrance to the garage] and opened up the side like a can opener. We had the backup car prepared well, and it's the car we had here the last time so I feel good about it." The wrecked car was experimental, Kenseth said. "It wasn't driving very good this morning, which might turn out to be a good thing. I wanted to get a whole weekend on it and hoped it would work better to run it at [Indianapolis]. But what we have here is kind of tried and true."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(7-31-2004)

Jarrett helps out [$$] Kenseth? At least two people inside the NASCAR garage said Dale Jarrett gave fellow Ford driver Matt Kenseth a large bill to help pay his $25,000 fine for last week's bumping incident with Kevin Harvick.(The State)(6-20-2004)

Still Feudin': #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick continued their feud from last weekend's race at Pocono in dueling news conferences Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Kenseth and Harvick each spun out in incidents involving the other in the final four laps of last Sunday's Pocono 500. This week, NASCAR fined each $25,000 and placed both on probation until Aug. 11. Harvick said Kenseth's spin was the result of Kenseth brake-checking in front of him, while Kenseth said he retaliated against Harvick because if "I was going to lose those spots (on the track), then he was going to lose his, too." While Kenseth spent much of his time with the media contradicting Harvick's account of the incident, Harvick directed most of his comments at NASCAR officials, saying he was penalized him without cause. "We presented NASCAR with everything they needed. (Kenseth's) skid marks are very evident on the race track and I wish now I had taken a picture of them. There's no way you can spin someone out under caution without at least knocking the grille out of your car," Harvick said. "Just like (Nextel Cup Series director) John Darby told me, 'Your past is probably why you're getting a fine.' I don't think that's the right way to go. But then, what has been right the past few weeks?" Harvick said he would not appeal the penalty. "The appeals process doesn't work. It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong, you're going to lose," he said. Harvick and his team owner, Richard Childress, remain adamant that Kenseth instigated both incidents under caution. "I've done a lot of wrong things, and that's the first time I have ever talked to Mike Helton twice and presented everything we presented," Harvick said. "Whether they like it or not, they are hard, cold facts." Kenseth denied he brake-checked, triggering the first spin. After both news conferences, Darby again asked both drivers to visit the NASCAR hauler, where they met for several minutes before the start of Friday's practice session.(see full story at ThatsRacin.com)(6-19-2004)

Harvick and Kenseth dropped in final finishing order UPDATE and fined $25k: after meeting with #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick for their beating and banging and spinning each other out, NASCAR moved both to the tail end of the lead lap. So Kenseth goes to 21st and Harvick goes to 20th. Unofficial results already had Kenseth in 21st due to his pitstop, Harvick drops from 10th to 20th but maintains 9th in the driver points standings.(Speed Channel's Speed News coverage)(6-13-2004)AND the official results are now posted at the Pocono Race Results/Awards page.(6-14-2004)AND II Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick were penalized for bumping each other at the end of the Pocono 500. With Sunday's race about to end under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield in Turn 3 on Lap 197. Kenseth then did the same to Harvick on the backstretch on the next lap. Both Kenseth, the 2003 series champion, and Harvick were interviewed after the race by NASCAR officials, who then dropped them to 20th and 21st. Harvick originally finished 11th, and Kenseth had finished 10th. More penalties could be coming later this week, NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "It boils down to a frustration level between the 17 [Kenseth] and the 29 [Harvick] that got played out on the race track, under caution, and that's something we frown on ... greatly," Helton said.(CNNSI/AP)(6-15-2004)UPDATE - Kenseth and Harvick fined: Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth were each fined $25,000 by NASCAR and placed on probation until Aug. 11 for bumping incidents between the two during the final laps of Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, and Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford, took part in bumping and spinning out each other during the final caution period of the race, which extended from Lap 197 to 200. Both drivers were penalized for involvement in an altercation with another competitor during a caution period. The rift began 11 laps from the finish when Harvick passed Kenseth coming out of Turn 1 and cut in front of Kenseth's car. Kenseth then used the front of his car to lift Harvick's rear wheels and passed him again as the final caution came out. While the race was under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield in Turn 3 on lap 197. At the time, no penalties were assessed or drivers or crew chiefs called to the NASCAR hauler. Kenseth then returned the favor on the backstretch on the following lap, after which NASCAR called both drivers and crew chiefs to the hauler after the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-16-2004)

Special Scheme for Kenseth at Michigan: This weekend, the #17 Ford will sport a Carhartt paint scheme, as one of the team's largest associate sponsors takes over the primary role. Headquartered in nearby Dearborn, Mich., Carhartt (established 110 years ago) manufactures the most rugged, high quality workwear on the market.(Matt Kenseth Site), see an image of the scheme on the #17 Team Paint Schemes page.(6-15-2004)

Kenseth Not Happy: Late in the race, while the number of lead-lap cars had already been reduced dramatically through attrition, leader Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth spun in oil dropped on the track by Casey Mears' Dodge and wrecked in Turn 4. Kenseth, the reigning series champion, complained that NASCAR waited to call a caution knowing Mears had dropped oil. He also criticized the safety crews for not sending an ambulance to get him. "I think race fans should be mad. First, NASCAR spends 40 laps under caution screwing around for who knows what. Then a car blew up half a lap before we got (to the turn) and they never threw the caution. They just let it go green until we all rode down in there and wrecked," he said. "We've run two laps under yellow and haven't seen an ambulance. Glad I'm OK. I haven't seen anybody check me out yet."(ThatsRacin.com)(6-7-2004)

Roush to buy out Yates? Garage sources have told Sporting News insider Lee Spencer that Roush Racing has offered to purchase Robert Yates Racing, expanding their engine partnership to team ownership in an effort to pool Ford's Nextel Cup resources. The Yates camp says the rumors are rubbish.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-11-2004)

Kenseth to FX: No thanks to reality show: Cable TV channel FX debuts its weekly unscripted program "NASCAR Drivers: 360" on Friday. The show will feature drivers and their families during their day-to-day lives. The drivers will include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeremy Mayfield, Jamie McMurray, Ward Burton, Casey Mears, Scott Wimmer, Brian Vickers, Kenny Wallace and Rusty Wallace. Matt Kenseth said he was approached by the network about being one of the subjects, but declined because of the amount of time needed for filming.(Rockford Register Star)(5-9-2004)

Kenseth wins ASA Late Model Race: Matt Kenseth made a one race visit to the American Speed Association Late Model Series, but he made the most of it. By winning both the pole and race for the first-ever ASA Late Model Series event, the Blaine's Farm & Fleet/DeWalt/Carhartt 100, Kenseth etched his name in the history books. The event was held at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis., before a near-capacity crowd. "I always wanted to go in ASA's history books somewhere," Kenseth claimed. "I've never been able to win an ASA touring series race before, so that's pretty cool. I've ran in a few of them, but never been able to pull one off so it's cool to win one of these Late Model races." A former ASA National Tour competitor, Kenseth has made 16 career starts in ASA competition between 1994 and 1997. The win didn't come easily as Kenseth and second place finisher Ron Breese battled side-by-side for nearly a dozen laps prior to the race being called prematurely due to rain. Breese led for 49 consecutive laps with Kenseth stalking him, patiently waiting for an opening. As the pair circled together, Kenseth could get through the turns better to close the gap, and then Breese would get a slight edge down the straightaways. The action kept the crowd on their feet, and Kenseth finally made the pass stick on lap 67. "You don't get racing like that very often," Breese said after the race. "We came in second, but I tell you what, this was the most fun I've had in a long time. We took second to the Winston Cup champion, but I would have liked to have won." Kenseth echoed the feelings about what it was like in the cockpit. "It was fun. We might have had a little different gear because I could get him off the corner then on the straightaway he pulled me back. It was a great race and we were both getting through the corners good and putting on a good show." Kenseth won the pole earlier in the afternoon with a lap of 18.116-seconds around the 0.50-mile oval. Ultimately, he started the event in seventh position due to the inverted start. Unfortunately, the scheduled 100-lap event was red flagged for weather on lap 75. The sky lit up nearly all evening with lightening, and once the rain started to fall the track quickly went away. In ASA Late Model Series competition, caution flag laps don't count
towards the total, fortunately for the fans as the yellow flag flew a total of 16 times. There were four lead changes among three drivers. Of the 32 cars starting the race, 17 finished on the lead lap. The top 10 finishers in the event were Kenseth, Breese, Kluever, Bobby Wildberg, Bobby Stremme, Dave Lawrence, Adam Shackelford, Brad Osborn, Jeff Watters and Doug Mahlik. Travis Kvapil, the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, retired early with ignition problems. The ASA Late Model Series is next in action at Baer Field Speedway in Ft. Wayne, Ind., on Sunday, May 16. The American Speed Association is based in Pendleton, Ind., and has offered stock car racing programs since 1968, including the ASA National Tour, ASA Late Model Series, several regional touring series and the ASA Member Track programs.(ASA PR)(5-9-2004)

Kennseth vs. McMurray: #17-Matt Kenseth and #42-Jamie McMurray traded bumps in the closing laps and then McMurray spun Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford on pit road after the race was completed. Kenseth "hit me two or three times going into Turn 1 when we took the green. He's not typically like that," McMurray said. "I got into him a little bit, trying to get him out of the way so I could get by him. It's just one of those deals. I'm shocked Matt acted that way." Of the post-race spin, McMurray said: "You can't really get out and punch somebody in our sport, so I just wanted him to know I was mad." Kenseth said he simply was retaliating on the track to McMurray's moves. "He just knocked me out of the groove and I did the same to him," Kenseth said. "They say nice guys finish last, I guess. "He didn't wreck. I didn't wreck, except for when he wrecked me on pit road." Kenseth and McMurray and their crew chiefs were all called to the hauler. A penalty is likely for McMurray's spin after the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-29-2004)

Matt Still Confused Over Darlington: A week after being penalized for passing cars under the caution at Darlington, #17-Matt Kenseth remains bewildered by NASCAR's actions. Kenseth was involved in an accident and pitted before pit road was open. He was penalized and had to go to the rear of the longest line. He did before pit road opened. So, when the pits opened, all the lead-lap cars stopped. Kenseth said that should have put him in the lead, but a few cars exited pit road ahead of him. So Kenseth passed them, incurring a penalty for passing during the caution. A NASCAR official stated Kenseth couldn't lead after taking the first penalty. "I read the rule book pretty thoroughly, I didn't read the whole entire thing, so I can't tell you for sure that there's not a rule, but they said that a car getting penalized with one to go can't lead a lap, well I never found that, maybe I missed a page somewhere," Kenseth said.(News and Record)(3-27-2004)

Mr. Kenseth Goes to Washington: [a day old and already happened but....] Matt Kenseth is slated to make a trip to the nation's capital tomorrow [actually Tuesday], as he will be attending the 2004 March of Dimes Gourmet Gala. At the invitation of NASCAR, Kenseth and invited guests Jack Roush, Richard and Lynda Petty and Mike Joy will all participate in this year's festivities at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Other honored guests attending the gala will be Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Congressman Robin Hayes of North Carolina. Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, the President and CEO of the March of Dimes will be the keynote speaker with Mike Joy filling in as the emcee. The gala is a dinner of sorts, with a cocktail reception and regional specialties of food. Just before the sit down dinner, Kenseth will sign a few autographs near the No. 17 DEWALT Tools Ford show car for dignitaries and large donors. The next day, NASCAR representatives will make a breakfast presentation on Capital Hill about stock car racing, its popularity, competitiveness and its national appeal. A question and answer session will follow. Kenseth will only appear at the previous evening's festivities, as he will be traveling to Texas that same evening to attend a "Winner's Circle" appearance on behalf of Texas Motor Speedway. Kenseth is slated to visit over a dozen television and radio outlets in Texas to promote the upcoming Samsung-Radio Shack 500 on April 4th.(DeWalt Site)(3-24-2004)

So What Happened to Kenseth? Series points leader #17-Matt Kenseth was involved in an accident on Lap 161 that collected six cars in Turn 1, but Kenseth's problems grew worse when he was assessed a one-lap penalty for passing cars under caution. Kenseth had to pit while pit road was closed immediately following his incident, and was sent to the end of the longest line. While the rest of the lead-lap cars went to pit road, it appeared Kenseth would take over the lead if he stayed out. But while he passed the cars that had pitted, NASCAR assessed the penalty. Kenseth's crew chief, Robbie Reiser, became involved in a heated confrontation with several NASCAR officials after the incident. "It seems these days you need a rule book for every race track we go to, but I don't know what the rule was and I don't really know what happened," Reiser said. "The penalty for pulling up to pit - we didn't pit. So, whatever you want to tell us, I'm sure I'll understand it after they get done with me." NASCAR's Jim Hunter said since Kenseth was assessed a penalty, he was never the race leader during the caution. "The fact is he passed some cars, and you cannot pass people under caution," Hunter said. Kenseth's damage ended up being more extensive and he required several pit stops later in the race and finished 31st.(ThatsRacin.com and more at Speed Channel)(3-22-2004)

Mooresville Seminar in May: On May 28th from 7-10 PM at the NASCAR Busch Series shop of ppc racing (#22-Jason Keller), Mike Calinoff's "Get Into Racing" Seminars will take place - an opportunity for those interested in a career in professional motorsports. The "Get Into Racing" [ www.getintoracing.com] program is not your typical seminar format. Traditionally, participants sit for several hours and try to absorb as much information as possible, while jotting down notes and thinking silently of questions they need answered. There is usually one host who does all of the speaking. The "Get Into Racing" program takes a totally different approach. While Mike Calinoff, serves as the primary speaker, he is complimented with a panel of experts who are in the business. Race team members, owners, public relations, media, marketing and administrative specialists [and maybe a certain internet site dude] have been carefully selected to bring as much information to the seminar as possible. Your are encouraged to bring your resume as well. The seminar is being sponsored by Jenkins & Jenkins, one of the most unique sponsors in motorsports. During the 20-minute break and at the conclusion of the program, you will have the opportunity to meet the panel members for some one-on-one conversation. The program is upbeat, humorous and informative. It addresses your real-life aspirations for a position in motorsports and brings to you the realistic opportunities that exist. Heavy concentration is placed on career development, interview skills and what race teams are looking for in a candidate. This is a no-holds-barred, in-your-face seminar. All of the time is spent discussing the real issues and opportunities that will help bring you into a whole new world. Visit the website for more information or call 1-877-RACEJOB.(3-19-2004)

Sad News: F.C. "Charlie" Roush, father of NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, passed away early Tuesday morning in Manchester, OH following a lengthy illness. Roush was known to many in the NASCAR garage as a regular and loyal supporter of the Roush Racing teams. He is survived by his wife, Georgetta; and sons, Jack and Frank. Private family services will be held Friday in Manchester, OH. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" to benefit the education of disadvantaged youth. All donations can be sent to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" in care of Roush Racing, 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC, 28027.(Roush Racing Site)(3-16-2004)

Former Car Owner Working on Diversity at Roush Racing: Sam Belnavis was the first black owner in more than 30 years to run a team full time in NASCAR's top series last year, owning the #54 cars Todd Bodine drove. Yet, when Belnavis' sponsor, National Guard, moved to Roush Racing after the season, Belnavis couldn't find a replacement and closed shop. The legacy Belnavis wanted to bequeath his family and minorities also appeared to fade. As one opportunity disappeared, another emerged. Car owner Jack Roush hired Belnavis to be the organization's chief diversity officer. "I have far more resources and Jack is committed to the diversity effort," Belnavis said as crew members - almost exclusively white - worked on cars in the garage area last Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "We're going to institute some programs that are going to be in the name of diversity. That's my job." A few blacks have tried ownership but have not had enough success to sustain a full-time effort. There have been fewer drivers. The late Wendell Scott is the only black driver to win a NASCAR race, and that was in 1963. Bill Lester is the only black driver with a full-time ride in the NASCAR's top three series. He competes in the Craftsman Truck Series for Bill Davis Racing. Now, there are a number of programs. Joe Gibbs Racing has a diversity driver program that has a black driver and a Hispanic driver competing in Late Model races. A program supported by NASCAR will place five minority drivers with various Late Model teams in the Southeast. There is also the Roush Racing program that Belnavis heads. Belnavis selected Morty Buckles to compete this season in Late Model races in Virginia, primarily at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas and Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron. Belnavis also said that he's working with a pair of black go-kart drivers, ages 15 and 16, in the Northeast. Belnavis said he knows that whenever a minority driver moves to the Cup level that person will face many challenges. "There's a tremendous amount of pressure on the teams as well as whomever that individual is in their initial stages of their career," said Belnavis, who has been involved in auto racing for more than 20 years. "So the teams, we have made this commitment that we're going to make sure that whoever we identify as our quote-unquote diversity driver is going to be ready."(Roanoke Times)(3-12-2004)

Smirnoff Ice 2004 Sponsor Schedule:
May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's
July 3 Pepsi 400 at Daytona
July 25 New England 300 at New Hampshire
August 8 Brickyard 400 at Indy
September 5 Pop Secret 500 at California
October 3 EA Sports 500 at Talladega
Smirnoff will also have secondary sponsorship on the DeWALT car for the remaining 2004 races

'Young Guns' go for three-peat and now we know why Dale Jr. has no facial hair this year: By picking Matt Kenseth as the top Gillette Young Gun finisher in the Subway 400, Brian F. of Cary, NC was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 challenge. Brian picked Kenseth to win the race by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. With the victory and thus being the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Kenseth. Every week, fans can register to win $5,000 in the Gillette Young Guns Weekly Challenge by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline at midnight PT the day before the race. If you correctly predict which Gillette Young Guns driver [Kenseth, Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick] will place highest in the next race, your correct entry will be automatically entered in a random drawing for $5,000. So far both NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events have been won by Gillette Young Guns -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona and Matt Kenseth at Rockingham. More info and to join at: www.gilletteyoungguns.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR), Tim Sullivan of Alan Taylor Comm was interviewed by Claire B. Lang of NASCAR Radio and was asked if the reason Dale Earnhardt Jr. was clean shaven in 2004 was due to the Young Gun deal, and was told YES. Now we know why Tony Stewart is not in the program.(3-2-2004)

Kenseth Gift Shop to break ground: Matt Kenseth, the winner of the 2003 Cup Championship from the Cambridge [WI] area, has broken ground on a building for a gift shop in the nearby town of Christiana. The store, known as Matt Kenseth's MK Race Wear, is expected to include Kenseth merchandise for sale amid memorabilia, including race cars from his 15-year career. "It's a place for people to come and see how my career started with my dad (Roy Kenseth) and where its at today and as we go on," he said at the groundbreaking Thursday. Kenseth will own the store, and his fan club, run by his sister and brother-in-law Kelley and Mike Maruszkewski, will operate it. "This is something I've wanted to do for a long time. We just decided to go get it done," Kenseth said.(Post-Crescent/AP)(2-29-2004)

Roush/Yates Engine Woes Update: Reigning series champion #17-Matt Kenseth said Roush Racing has determined what caused the engine failures in teammates #6-Mark Martin and #99-Jeff Burton last weekend in Daytona and is confident the problem is corrected. Kenseth said each engine had something different wrong with it.(Fayetteville Observer), however, was not specific on what that something was.(2-22-2004)

Cup still on the counter: Three months after Matt Kenseth clinched the final Winston Cup championship at North Carolina Speedway, the trophy is still sitting on a countertop in his home in Terrell, NC. "I'm waiting for that carpenter guy to come over and finish my trophy room," Kenseth said. "I've got a little place I'm going to have built and stick it in the wall. It's kind of a neat little place. It hasn't been done yet, so it's just sitting on the counter. One of these days, though, I'll get it put away."(Charleston Post and Courier)(2-22-2004)

Smirnoff and DEI? Several teams were hoping for a strong showing to attract potential sponsors, including the #1 DEI Chevy with John Andretti. DEI is in discussions with Seagram's Smirnoff brand.(Yahoo Sports), however, it was recently announced that Smirnoff Ice re-signed with Matt Kenseth and the #17 Team.(2-16-2004)

Smirnoff Ice Back with Kenseth: Smirnoff Ice will sponsor Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth in six races during the 2004 season:
May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's
July 3 Pepsi 400 at Daytona
July 25 New England 300 at New Hampshire
August 8 Brickyard 400 at Indy
September 5 Pop Secret 500 at California
October 3 EA Sports 500 at Talladega
Smirnoff will also have secondary sponsorship on the DeWALT car for the remaining 2004 races.(Mattkenseth.com), see images of the car and a new DeWalt scheme on the #17 Team Schemes page.(2-4-2004)

Jack Roush Named First SKF X-Tracker Award Recipient: SKF has awarded its first X-Tracker Award for Extraordinary Achievement in the North American Automotive Industry to Jack Roush, Chief Executive Officer of Roush Industries and owner of the Roush Racing Team. The international award recognizes an individual who has achieved success in the face of extreme challenges or
adversity. Jack Roush was selected as the first X-Tracker Award recipient due to his legendary success in the automotive and racing industries and his perseverance through his recovery from life-threatening injuries sustained in a 2002 airplane crash. More information
about SKF is available at http://www.skf.com.(PRN Newswire/WPVI.com)(1-18-2004)

Roush and Yates? UPDATE 3 mergine engine programs: hearing Robert Yates Racing and Roush Racing are teaming up to build engines together at Yates engine shop?
hearing it's a two way technology transfer as chassis info is headed back to Yates' group from Roush. It's along the lines of GM's "Key Partners" group. The idea is to have the gear as optimized as it can be, then race amongst themselves for the win ---- which is what GM's been doing with great success this year.(11-13-2003)UPDATE: hearing more and more unconfirmed rumors that Roush Racing is buying out Roberts Yates two car operation [#38 and #88], but that Yates would maintain the engine side of things and build engines for all seven teams [Yates #38, #88; Roush's #6, #16, #17, #97, #99] and run an engine lease operation.(1-4-2004)UPDATE 2: been told that Roush is not buying Yates out, but Yates is supposedly doing some engine work for Roush.(1-5-2004)AND see a column at FoxSports: A Roush-Yates alliance could be RAD for Ford.(1-6-2004)UPDATE 3: A few versions of how it's playing out: "Jack Roush is buying Robert Yates Racing"; Robert Yates Engines has become the "Official Ford Engine builder of NASCAR" or, as a longer story has it, a Ford Motor Company executive one day wondered why Ford's top teams didn't collaborate on their stock car programs. "Ford has encouraged them to work together, particularly with the new cylinder head having been approved by NASCAR during the offseason," Ford Motorsports spokesman Dan Zacharias said Tuesday. "Roush has not bought Robert Yates; Yates is not building all of the Ford engines used in NASCAR." Finally, the story continues, the Ford executive got the guys together and asked them: "Why don't you all just work together?" Everyone involved supposedly likes the idea that each would no longer waste money on producing something that the other can bring to the table and have, supposedly, already started doing just that. "They've established a cooperative arrangement to work together instead, to get everybody up to speed."(in part from a Daytona Beach News Journal column)UPDATE 3a: Two of the biggest names in NASCAR racing, car owners Robert Yates and Jack Roush, are merging their engine-building operations, in a stunning development for the two long-time rivals. The move comes, Roush said, to meet the challenge of a tremendous influx of European Formula One technology into stock-car racing over the past 18 months and the pending Toyota challenge. At the moment, the Roush-Yates merger involves only engine technology, but sources said that the opportunity is now there for much tighter work between the two Ford camps - Yates, with drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler, and Roush, with drivers Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. "Ford has encouraged Robert and me to have a 'technology transfer' to become competitive with what Toyota is bringing and what Chevrolet is doing and what Dodge has done," Roush said. The Ford thing has been disjointed. Robert and I didn't cooperate, and Ford was not in a position to carry any amount of meaningful technology to both of us, even though both of us were being funded for different projects. The agreement was to help our programs singularly, but that is just not going to work going forward, because you can't have half a program and get the whole result. So we're working to organize how to build better engines by taking both programs and putting them together. Beyond that there are discussions that could lead to deeper involvements, but those aren't finalized at this point." Some crewmen sense an even deeper merger of the two camps may be looming.(Winston Salem Journal)(1-7-2004)

Assoc sponsor re-ups with the #17: GE Advanced Materials announced that it has renewed as an associate sponsor of 2003 Winston Cup Champion, Matt Kenseth, and the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus for the 2004 NASCAR racing season. The extension marks the second year that GE Advanced Materials has teamed up with DEWALT and Roush Racing to promote its LEXAN brand of polycarbonate plastic, which is used as an ingredient component in many consumer products. The #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus will once again feature the green LEXAN resin logo across the back. LEXAN resin is one of the toughest and most versatile polymers in existence and can be found in everything from DVDs to automotive headlamps and steering columns, to camping equipment, cell phones, and computer housings. LEXAN is a registered trademark of General Electric Company.(Business Wire)(1-6-2004)

Kenseth's Busch team sold? hearing that #17 Busch Series team that Matt Kenseth drives for and owned by John Reiser has been sold to Roush Racing.(1-6-2004)

2003 News

Kenseth honored in a hometown parade: Entering his hometown, Matt Kenseth was greeted with NASCAR flags flying from every pole and a temporary population sign that reads, "Cambridge: Population 1,100 and Matt." Kenseth was in awe Saturday as thousands of fans cheered on their hometown hero in a parade down Cambridge's Main Street. Later in the day some 2,500 supporters gathered at the Alliant Center for a fan club party. Storefront signs congratulated and greeted Kenseth and his wife, Katie. "It's pretty overwhelming," Kenseth said. "You never really totally get used to it. It seems like a dream." A sea of fans wearing the black-and-yellow colors of Kenseth's DeWalt sponsorship filled Cambridge for the parade, which featured floats promoting a local pancake breakfast, race cars, the Red Hot Dixie Jazz Band and various members of the Kenseth family. After the parade, Kenseth, who now lives in North Carolina, was presented a key to the village of Rockdale. A key to Cambridge was presented by Bob Nodolf - Kenseth's driver's education teacher.(full story at Wisconsin State Journal and an AP one at The State)(12-28-2003)

Cambridge building to house Kenseth memorabilia: Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup champion from Cambridge, WI, will display memorabilia from his racing career in a new building in his hometown scheduled to open next spring. Matt Kenseth wants to give back to the place he calls home. And he believes a venue that will display memorabilia from his burgeoning racing career is the perfect way to do that. The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup champion has purchased an 18-acre triangular parcel in the Village of Cambridge at the west edge of town, and construction will begin in February on an 11,000-square-foot building which will showcase a collection of race cars and memorabilia that spans his entire 15-year career. Kenseth merchandise, Internet sales and his fan club also will be housed in the building. Village of Cambridge president Don Trieloff anticipates that the facility, which is scheduled to open in May or June 2004, will bring new visitors, excitement and renewed interest in other businesses in the area. One detail that has been discussed but has yet to be finalized is what to call the building. The 31-year-old Kenseth hesitated to call it a museum, but that may most accurately describe the scope of plans and size of the structure.
The business will be operated by Kenseth's sister Kelley Maruszewski, who currently runs Kenseth's fan club and sells merchandise out of the family-owned business. The Matt Kenseth Fan Club Store doubles as a video store, and the family also operates a laundromat and the 10-unit Village Motel in Cambridge. Roy Kenseth, who is the track promoter at Madison International Speedway, will help the contractors oversee construction of the project. The building will not encompass the entire parcel, and further residential or commercial development is planned for the future. While discussions are ongoing for finalizing utilities, road access and sewage structures, Roy Kenseth said the response from officials with the village has been positive. "It's going to be a beautiful building and will be almost like the gateway to Cambridge," said Roy Kenseth, whose parents and grandparents also grew up in area. "It is going to bring a lot of people to Cambridge. I suppose there are going to be a small minority of people who won't like it, but the majority of people will like it. It will be good for the town."(Capital Times)(12-24-2003)

Kenseth to run ASA Late Model: The American Speed Association has announced the ASA Late Model Series will begin its 2004 season at the .50-mile Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis. on Saturday, May 8. Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion and former ASA competitor, will compete in the season-opening event. Labeled as the fastest half-mile oval in Wisconsin, Madison International Speedway is one of the premier short tracks in the Badger State with a full array of suites in turn 1 and seating capacity for more than 10,000. ASA National Tour car owner and Chicago-businessman Terry Kunes purchased the track in November, 2002. Kunes appointed Roy Kenseth, father of NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, to promote and manage Madison. "I can't think of a better start of the ASA Late Model Series season than at Madison in 2004," said Roy Kenseth. "The series will receive significant exposure with Matt (Kenseth) returning to the speedway. It's going to be a highlight of the season." Matt Kenseth, of Cambridge, Wis., made 16 starts in the ASA National Tour, recording a best finish of second at the 1997 season-opening race at Southern National Speedway. He produced three top-five finishes and nine top-10s. Kenseth earned the 1994 Madison International Speedway track championship.(ASA Site/PR)(12-19-2003)

Smirnoff Ice back with Kenseth? hearing that Smirnoff Ice will return to sponsor 2003 Winston Cup champ, Matt Kenseth, somehow in 2004. There had been rumors that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black would move to the #29 team and Kevin Harvick.[see #29 Team News and Links page for that old rumor].(12-11-2003)

Kenseth in USA Today Ad: To honor 2003 Winston Cup Champ Matt Kenseth and his #17 Roush Racing teammates for their outstanding year, Smirnoff Ice Triple Black has taken out a full-page color advertisement in USA Today, which will run in its December 4 edition. The ad contains a black background with a large, white #17 in the upper half of the page. The seven is crossed out in red, and a red number sign is next to the No. 1, which reflects Kenseth's Winston Cup points finish. The bottom half of the advertisement contains the Smirnoff Ice Triple Black logo with the message: "Congratulations to Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 Roush Racing Team, 2003 Winston Cup champions, from your fans at Smirnoff Ice." The driver's Ford Taurus racecar is positioned below the message, and the brand's responsible driving campaign tagline "Be Smart, Drink Responsibly" is positioned in the bottom left-hand side of the ad.
"The Smirnoff Ice Triple Black family is very proud of Matt and the entire No. 17 Roush Racing Team," said James Stammer, Smirnoff Senior Brand Manager. "It was a fun and exciting championship season, and we were happy to be along for the ride."
Kenseth drove his No. 17 Smirnoff Ice Triple Black car in seven of the Series' 36 races this season, promoting the brand's responsible drinking program.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(12-2-2003)

Roush and Yates? hearing Robert Yates Racing and Roush Racing are teaming up to build engines together at Yates engine shop?
hearing it's a two way technology transfer as chassis info is headed back to Yates' group from Roush. It's along the lines of GM's "Key Partners" group. The idea is to have the gear as optimized as it can be, then race amongst themselves for the win ---- which is what GM's been doing with great success this year.(11-13-2003)

Kenseth sets Modern-era record: Newly crowned NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth was a showcase for consistency throughout his championship-winning season and that characteristic earned him an impressive series' modern-era record in addition to the prestige and financial rewards that accompany the title. Kenseth spent 33 consecutive race weeks ranked No. 1 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship race, which established a modern-era record and paces this month's NASCAR Top 10 list.

The previous record was 30 consecutive weeks, established by seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champ Dale Earnhardt during his first title-winning run in 1980. Kenseth tied Earnhardt's mark following Atlanta on Oct. 26 and earned the record outright the following week (Nov. 2) at Phoenix. Kenseth's streak began March 9 following a fourth-place finish at Atlanta that vaulted him past Michael Waltrip for the No. 1 ranking through four races of the season. The performance at Atlanta allowed Kenseth to improve one position from his previous ranking of No. 2 and open a 49-point advantage over No. 2 Tony Stewart. The rise to No. 1 also marked the first time in his career that he was the top-ranked driver at any stage of the season.

The closest any of his pursuers came to threatening his No. 1 position during the streak occurred when Dale Earnhardt Jr. narrowed the gap to 20 points following Richmond, the 11th of 36 championship-points races. However, the following race at Charlotte was pivotal as Kenseth's runner-up finish - coupled with a 41st-place finish by Earnhardt Jr. - increased the margin between the two to 160 points. Kenseth held a comfortable margin the remainder of the way and his largest lead of the season was 436 points over No. 2 Kevin Harvick following Dover on Sept. 21, race 28 of 36. He closed the season with a 90-point spread over series runner-up Jimmie Johnson. See the NASCAR Top 10 for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the championship on my Stats and Stats Links page.(11-20-2003)

So how did? Matt Kenseth do a burnout in a car that had a blown motor [lap 28 engine blew] at Homestead? simple, the team pulled out his backup car in order to do the celebratory laps.(Palm Beach Post)(11-17-2003)

NASCAR Press Conference UPDATE Gillette Young Guns: NASCAR will be announcing a sponsorship deal involving six of NASCAR's top ten drivers this Friday, Nov. 14 at 12:45pm/et from Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway. On hand will be 2003 champ Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.(11-12-2003)UPDATE: hear it is something with Gillette.(11-13-2003)UPDATE 2: Gillette Co. is expected to unveil a $10 million-plus sponsorship deal today with NASCAR and six of its most prominent young and aggressive drivers. The Hub razor maker is gunning for a huge and growing group of auto racing fans with a sweeping deal to be unveiled in Miami. As an official NASCAR partner, Gillette and its Duracell and Oral-B brands will gain exclusivity in the shaving, battery and oral care categories, industry sources say. Gillette also will sponsor six young drivers including #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #29-Kevin Harvick and this year's Winston Cup Champion, #17-Matt Kenseth. The six - to be dubbed Gillette Young Guns - will anchor promotional programs designed to drive sales. Gillette is expected to spend more than $10 million on the effort overall. The deal is comparable only to Coca-Cola Co. (KO: chart, news)'s sponsorship of 13 drivers under its Coca-Cola Family of Racers campaign.(Boston Herald)(11-14-2003)UPDATE 3: Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman have been called "young guns" for some time. Next year, they'll get paid for it. In a deal worth a reported $20 million a year, Gillette has signed a multiyear agreement for those Cup drivers to endorse Gillette razors, Duracell batteries and Oral-B toothbrushes. The deal also includes "official" sponsor status for Gillette. The agreement also includes a weekly contest for fans, who can register online at www.gilletteyoungguns.com, to predict the highest finisher among those six in each 2004 race. All correct entrants will be entered in a drawing for a $5,000 prize. If those six drivers finish in the top six in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May or the Ford 400 at Homestead, and a consumer correctly picks the order of their finish, the prize would be $5 million. Gillette will also donate at least $1,000 per week to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition as part of the program. None of the money in the deal goes any of the race teams involved. The agreements are with NASCAR and the individual drivers.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-16-2003)

Kenseth at Homestead: #17-Matt Kenseth clinched the NASCAR Winston Cup points championship with his fourth-place finish Sunday at the North Carolina Speedway. Kenseth made history in becoming the last "Winston" Cup champion in series history. Kenseth will have a formal championship ceremony as 2004 champion immediately following the Ford 400.(HMS PR)(11-10-2003)

Roush the 2nd to win all three: #17 team owner, Jack Roush became only the second NASCAR team owner to win championships in all three national divisions - Winston Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck. Roush driver Greg Biffle won the Busch title last season, and the truck crown in 2000. Richard Childress Racing has also hit the trifecta, scoring six Winston Cup titles with the late Dale Earnhardt, a truck title with Mike Skinner in 1995, and a Busch championship with Kevin Harvick in 2001.(Charelston Post and Courier)(11-10-2003)

DeWalt's 2003 King of the Drill: Mike Rennie has been crowned as the 2003 DEWALT "King of the Drill." The 34-year-old drywall contractor from Kirkwood/Seattle, WA won first place in the DEWALT "Million Dollar Challenge" national cordless screwdriving contest, sponsored by Chevy Trucks. The challenge was to see who could drive five screws into a piece of wood the fastest with a DEWALT cordless drill. Contestants had to start a timer, pick up the drill, drive the screws, and stop the timer with the drill. Rennie competed against the 13 other fastest "drivers" from the U.S. and Canada during the final contest held November 1-2 at the Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona. The 14 contestants were seeded tournament-style. A process of elimination determined the final winner. Rennie sank five screws in 7.6 seconds in the 4th round to win the event along with $25,000 and a new Chevy Silverado pick-up truck. He also had the chance to earn a $1,000,000 grand prize if he could sink five screws under 6.5 seconds during the grand finale. Standing front and center on the start/finish line, Rennie was on pace to beat the clock but got hung up on the fourth screw. He ended the million-dollar round with a time of 8.06 seconds.(DeWalt Site)(11-6-2003)

Hot Wheels and Roush Racing: Mattel and Roush Racing announced that the parties have extended their mass retail market die-cast through the 2006 race season. The agreement also includes exclusive rights to the Wood Brothers famed Number 21 program based out of Stuart, Virginia. Team owner Jack Roush, President of Roush Racing, Geoff Smith, Tony DaDante, Vice President / General Manager of Hot Wheels® Racing and NASCAR drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and current NASCAR points leader Matt Kenseth were in attendance for this special occasion. Hot Wheels cars thundered into the toy world in 1968. Nearly 35 years later, Hot Wheels is a global lifestyle brand and a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of vehicles, playsets and track sets. In addition to leading the way with speed, power and performance, Hot Wheels cars are also Cool Collectibles for adults. For the latest information on Hot Wheels® products, make a break on the information superhighway and cruise over to www.hotwheels.com.(Mattel PR) Also, see info about the Hot Wheel Hall of Fame in my Hall of Fame/Museums page.(11-4-2003)

Pennzoil and Roush in 2004 MORE: Acting to position Pennzoil motor oil squarely at the forefront of NASCAR competition, Roush Racing and Pennzoil have announced a lubrication sponsorship and technology partnership across all Roush Racing teams in all NASCAR series. The program will include Pennzoil participation and associate identification on all Roush Racing NASCAR Nextel Cup (NNC) teams, beginning with the Daytona 500 in 2004. Additionally, Roush Racing will feature a special Pennzoil design and paint scheme on the #16 Greg Biffle NNC entry at Pocono Raceway next June. Capping the sponsorship announcement was the news that Mark Martin, the winningest driver in the history of the NASCAR Series will 'unretire' to race the Pennzoil colors as part of a three driver Busch Series 'Pennzoil Super Team' consisting of Martin, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton. The three drivers will combine to race different Pennzoil entries in nine Busch Series events during 2004, beginning with Mark Martin at Daytona in February. The Pennzoil-Roush partnership draws on Pennzoil's advanced lubrication technologies, and will provide Roush Racing with not just lubrication products but also with the expertise to maximize the performance side of the engineering equation. An announcement regarding the entire nine race 'Pennzoil' Busch Series schedule for Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton will be made at a later time. Mark Martin will kick off the 2004 Busch Series season at Daytona in a Pennzoil Roush Ford.(Pennzoil PR)(11-2-2003)More on the deal...and a Kodak mention: The money for the new Roush sponsorship is estimated at $10 million, enough for associate sponsorship decals on all Roush cars and for a 9-race Busch program that will kick off at Daytona. Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth will each run three Busch races. "This is a full 10-car associate sponsorship," said Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing. "So this is a different strategy, and there are different advantages. You have Coke with multiple drivers and now Pennzoil with multiple drivers." Kodak has been interested in a similar program, instead of backing a single team.(Winston Salem Journal), see an image of the scheme on my 2004 Busch Series Paint Schemes page.(11-3-2003)

More Teams For Roush? Roush hinted yesterday he might expand to nine or 10 teams next year. He currently fields seven NASCAR teams - five in Winston Cup and two in Busch [actually Truck, none in Busch]. Asked if he would have more than five Cup teams, Roush responded: "Well, right now it's six if you count the Wood Brothers. But it might be more than that." Before expanding, the most pressing issue for Roush still remains signing a primary sponsor for the No. 99 of Burton.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-3-2003)

DEWALT's Million Dollar Challenge contest at Phoenix: Earn $1,000,000 in 6.5 seconds. That's what the fastest 14 drill slingers in North America will try to do as they compete November 1-2 in the DEWALT "Million Dollar Challenge" cordless screwdriving contest, sponsored by Chevy Trucks. The challenge is to see who can drive five screws into a piece of wood the quickest with a DEWALT cordless drill. Contestants must start a timer, pick up the drill, drive the screws, and then stop the timer with the drill.Contestants include:
Ben Palmer - Russelville, AR - 7.03 seconds
Dan Rancourt - Wilton, NH- - 7.19 seconds
Jaime Mills - Holland, OH - 7.23 seconds
Eric Howard - Concord, CA - 7.47 seconds
Mike Rennie - Kirkland, WA - 7.51 seconds
Kane Powell - Panora, IA - 7.7 seconds
Mark Martin - Ostrander, OH - 7.7 seconds
Mike Fischer - Huntley, IL - 7.99 seconds
Rocky Lane - Loudon, TN - 8.18 seconds
Tom Holland - Philadelphia, PA - 8.42 seconds
James McAnally - Longwood, FL - 8.68 seconds
Sergio Romero - Tucson, AZ - 8.7 seconds
Alex Mealer - Columbus, OH - 8.9 seconds
Kevin Brunette - Calgary, Alberta (Canada) - 10.09 seconds
The 13 Americans and one Canadian will be seeded tournament-style according to their times. Contestants will be eliminated until the last two men clash head-to-head in the final "screw off" November 2. The "King of the Drill" is guaranteed to win $25,000 and a premium Chevy Silverado pick-up truck. To win the $1,000,000 grand prize, the champion must sink five screws under 6.5 seconds during the final round in front of thousands of spectators at the Phoenix International Raceway. It's not as easy as it sounds. Most of the contestants built their own screwdriving practice stations using plans posted on DEWALT's web site. Some of the finalists have driven more than 450,000 screws in practice, while a few have even videotaped themselves to see where they can cut time. This is the second year for the national screwdriving challenge. Earlier this year DEWALT staged qualifying contests in more than 100 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada where people tested their prowess driving screws. More than 100,000 people entered. Regional contests were held last month to finalize the top 14 competing in Phoenix. The 2003 DEWALT Million Dollar Challenge is presented by DEWALT Power Tools and Accessories, Chevy Trucks, the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors' Bureau, Bombardier ATV, Richard Petty's Driving Experience, Carhartt contractor clothing, Greenlee storage boxes, and Adrian Steel commercial van and truck equipment. Visit www.DEWALT.com for contest information.(DeWalt PR)(10-30-2003)

DEWALT Donates To "Race For Relief": DEWALT announced that they plan to donate several of their tool lines to California Speedway's "Race For Relief" fund today. The wildfires that have plagued the area of Southern California recently necessitated the gift to the men and women on the frontlines of the fires. Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, who is scheduled to make a media stop through Los Angeles on Monday, echoed their sentiments. "From what we've all seen on television lately, it's been a tragedy for the homeowners out in the area," stated Kenseth. "I hope that the donation will be well received. DEWALT has been a wonderful sponsor for me throughout my career and gestures like this one remind me that they are a class organization," he added. Kenseth also had some words of encouragement for the front line firefighters currently battling the blazes. "I think the job they do is remarkable considering the circumstances and we wish them safety and success during this tough time," he stated. The DEWALT tools were sent to the firefighters via California Speedway and their fund as of Wednesday, October 29th.(Roush Racing PR)(10-30-2003)

Roush Back in Busch: According to garage sources Roush Racing will announce, at Phoenix, new NASCAR Busch Series team effort for 2004. Roush Racing's three senior members will drive the car on Saturdays next year with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth all taking turns behind the wheel. Sponsorship will come from oil company Pennzoil/Quaker State for the program. Additionally, Roush Racing will soon announce a fulltime NBS effort for Greg Biffle. He is expecting to make the show in all but two of the races when the #60 returns to the track fulltime in 2004. A suitable replacement will handle the car in the two races Biffle can't drive. No word on who will sponsor the Biffle package.(Ford Racing)(10-26-2003)

Roush to be honored: On Sunday, October 12, hometown boy [Manchester, OH] Jack Roush [owner of the #6,#16,#17,#97,#99 Cup cars] will return to Manchester for an event in his honor. Main Street, (SR 136) will be renamed Jack Roush Way. Festivities will start at 2:00pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony and parade. Participants with classic, antique, Mustang and racing cars are asked to line up at 1:30pm on 7th and 8th streets for the parade. The parade will conclude at the Riverbarn on US 52 and festivities for the rest of the afternoon will include an autograph session by Roush, entertainment, a concert by Bobby Mackey beginning at 6:30, and raffles to benefit the Manchester Christmas Light Fund.
(People's Defender)(10-10-2003)

Kenseth contributes: Winston Cup points leader #17-Matt Kenseth finished a season-worst 33rd at the EA Sports 500 last Sunday, but still donated $25,000 to the Recording Artists/Actors/Athletes Against Drunk Driving (RADD) program. Kenseth was to donate $250 to RADD for every lap he led at Talladega. He led only one lap, but a minimum donation of $25,000 was set aside.(Delaware News Journal)(10-2-2003)

Kenseth Racing for Charity at Talladega: #17- Matt Kenseth will be racing for more than a trip to Victory Lane during the EA Sports 500 on September 28 - he'll be racing for charity as well. As part of Smirnoff Ice Triple Black's "Race for Charity,". $250 will be donated to R.A.D.D. for every lap Kenseth leads at the Talladega Superspeedway. This event is part of the Smirnoff Ice Triple Black "Be Smart, Drink Responsibly" program to promote responsible drinking. At a minimum, Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will donate $25,000 to the organization. "Smirnoff Ice Triple Black's Race For Charity is part of our multi-faceted motorsports presence to promote our social responsibility programming to devoted adult NASCAR fans," said James Stammer, Smirnoff senior brand manager. "From a charitable standpoint, I don't think R.A.D.D. would want to have any other driver racing than the points leader racing for their cause." The EA Sports 500 is the fifth of seven races this year that Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will serve as primary sponsor of Kenseth's No. 17 Ford, furthering its "Be Smart, Drink Responsibly" program. To help fans at Talladega get more involved in the "Race For Charity," Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will distribute 10,000 flags on designated seats in the track's grandstand, instructing fans to wave the flags each time Kenseth leads a lap during the race.. Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will also have giant flags and banners on hand to ensure fan participation. During Winston Cup's only other visit to Talladega earlier this year (April 6), Kenseth finished ninth.. For the year, he has finished in the top 15 in all but two races, has 20 top 10 finishes, 10 top five finishes, and has held the Winston Cup points lead in 23 of 26 races.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(9-23-2003)

Smirnoff and the #99? or to Penske? UPDATE 2 to the #29>: hearing that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black could end up being the sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton, either in a full time capacity or similar to what they are doing with #17-Matt Kenseth this year [seven races as a primary sponsor on the car], OR could re-up with Kenseth for another year OR could do a similar deal with #12-Ryan Newman [not sure how Miller Lite would like that] also being a sponsor on one of Penske's IRL cars [who is losing Marlboro] with one of their hard liquior labels, which is allowed in the IRL but not in NASCAR. While mulling over this one, kmowing it looks like a sponsor will stick with NASCAR, check out their contest: Smirnoffice.com - Hang With Matt & The Crew [that Chris Brock seems fun to hang out with](7-28-2003)UPDATE: now hearing the sponsorship [7-8 races, like it is for this year] is between staying with the #17 team or going to the #29 RCR team and Kevin Harvick.(8-28-2003)UPDATE 2: hearing Smirnoff Ice will end up going to the #29 team, running seven or so Cup races as the primary, as it did with the #17 in 2003.(9-10-2003)

Looking Good for Kenseth to win the final Winston Cup: #17-Matt Kenseth leads the points standings by 351 points [with 12 races to go], and no driver has ever lost a lead that big in the race for the championship. In 1981, Darrell Waltrip was 341 points behind Bobby Allison with 17 races left, but came back to win the title by 53 points.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-25-2003)

Roush, Yates and Wood Bros re-up with Ford: Ford Racing officials on Friday announced they had signed new, five-year contract extensions with three of the top Ford teams in Winston Cup - Robert Yates Racing, Roush Racing and Wood Brothers Racing.
Together, the organizations field eight Cup teams each weekend and include such drivers as 1999 champion Dale Jarrett, current series leader Matt Kenseth and veterans Mark Martin and Ricky Rudd, among others. "Loyalty is something that we just take extremely seriously at Ford," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing. "We like to reward loyalty and these three organizations have been so loyal to us that I felt it was important for Ford and Ford Racing to demonstrate our loyalty to them. We've picked our dance partner and for Ford Motor Co. and NASCAR, these are our dance partners." These organizations were also instrumental in the development of the 2004 Ford Taurus, which will be officially submitted to NASCAR this week for competition beginning next season. "The kind of commitment that need to made for research and development and pooling of information and for the development of strategies can't be made on an ad hoc basis," said team owner Jack Roush. They can't be made annually. They almost have to me made with a decade in mind, and this certainly is moving in the right direction."(Charlotte Observer)(8-1-2003)

Parrott to PE? maybe Roush? UPDATE 3 looks like neither: Sources in the garage say former Robert Yates Racing crew chief Todd Parrott could be coming out of retirement and headed for Petty Enterprises -- if the Pettys can afford the seven-figure price tag it would take to retain him.(more 'Dish' at Sporting News)(7-21-2003)UPDATE: Earlier this year, Todd Parrott was released as director of competition at Robert Yates Racing. Earlier this week, there was a report that Parrott may wind up with Petty Enterprises, but a source told me Friday that Parrott could wind up at Roush Racing. We'll keep you posted on that.(Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR)(7-26-2003)UPDATE 2: Crew chief Todd Parrott is shopping for a job, and two places he's applied are Petty Enterprises and Roush Racing. But sources say that Parrott won't be offered a job with Roush. 'Todd came to me, and I have talked with him,' Jack Roush said, without further explanation.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-28-2003)UPDATE 3: Petty Enterprises has talked to Todd Parrott about its General Manager's job, but Kyle Petty says Parrott will not be joining the team. Petty continues to look for a GM for the team.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to view)(8-1-2003)

did ya know? that #17-Matt Kenseth failed to finish on the lead lap for only the second time all year at Chicago? he was 12th, 1 lap down.(7-14-2003)

Kmart back? on the quarter panels of the #17 Ford in the Busch Series that Matt Kenseth is driving at Chicago......The big Kmart 'K'.(7-12-2003)

Congrats: Jeremy West (rear tire changer for Matt Kenseth's No. 17 Winston Cup and Busch Series entries) and his wife Lisa (receptionist and travel coordinator at Innovative Motorsports) have announced the birth of their first child. Deegan James West was born on May 17th at 1:32 a.m.. He weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces.. Both Lisa and baby Deegan are happy and healthy.(5-22-2003)

Roush Racing to Open Destiny 3 Studio: Roush Racing will become the first NASCAR team to open its own in-house photography studio when Destiny 3 Studio opens June 16th. The full service studio will be located inside of Roush Racing's newly built corporate headquarters located by its Winston Cup facilities in Concord, N.C. Destiny 3 Studio will be just one facet of the state-of-the-art 83,000 square foot Roush Racing world headquarters and museum opening this month. Destiny 3 Studio can accommodate a variety of shoots that include automotive, fashion, portrait, food, film and video. The facility is spacious enough to photograph five cars at once, from the ground level or from a second-floor catwalk. The 3,200 square foot facility will also have complete private hair, makeup and styling
rooms, and a comfortable client lounge with work stations and internet access. Destiny 3 Studio will also be promoted to photographers,
designers, ad agencies, film and video productions nationwide. In a related move, Action Sports Photography, Inc. will be relocating from Cornelius, N.C., to office space directly next door to the new facility and will also be using Destiny 3 Studios as its choice for studio photography. The new studio, as well as the new Roush Racing corporate headquarters, is located on Roush Place next to Concord Regional Airport, just minutes from Lowe's Motor Speedway and a short drive from uptown Charlotte. The 25 acre complex is already home to Roush Racing's five Winston Cup teams.(Roush Racing PR)(5-22-2003)

Kenseth's crew wins Mechanix honor: The pit crew for Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford, the world championship-winning crew in 2001 and 2002, has been named the first quarter winner of the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew of the Year Award. At season's end, the overall winning crew gets $75,000.(NASCAR PR)(5-21-2003)

Kenseth Commercial: #17-Matt Kenseth will be featured in television commercials to promote responsible drinking. The Smirnoff Ice Triple Black spots begin Monday. The commercials depict Kenseth arriving at a party in his #17 Ford. He slides out the window and reaches back to grab a six-pack of Triple Black. As he walks away, his pit crew rushes to the car, strips off the tires and places it on blocks. The pit crew then leaves, rolling the tires and carrying the steering wheel.(Rocky Mountain Times)(5-13-2003)

Kenseth wins at Madison: Roy Kenseth's voice cracked with emotion moments after his son, Matt Kenseth, won the Blain's Farm and Fleet/Dewalt 100 Friday night at Madison International Speedway. "This is like winning a Cup race. I can't explain it," Roy Kenseth said of Matt's victory in front of about 10,000 spectators at the one-half mile oval. Matt Kenseth, a Cambridge [WI] native and the Winston Cup Series points leader, led 83 laps and took home a $3,000 award. The victory was his 25th at the track and first in seven years. He started sixth in a car built by Kevin Laatsch of Janesville and took the lead from Sun Prairie's Scott Ollerman on Lap 17. Kenseth's main competition came from Ollerman and Dave Feiler, former MIS track champions, who had raced against Kenseth before at MIS. Kenseth returned to help MIS celebrate its grand re-opening. Roy Kenseth is the track promoter and Matt was more than happy to help his father pack the stands.(Capital Times)(5-11-2003)

DEWALT Extends Sponsorship with Kenseth and the #17: Roush Racing announced that DEWALT Industrial Power Tool Co. has signed a multi-year extension to continue as the primary sponsor of the #17 DEWALT Tools Ford driven by current point leader Matt Kenseth in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "The race program with Matt Kenseth and Roush has become a focal point for DEWALT's relationship with our customers and end users," stated Chris Allen, DEWALT's Vice-President of Marketing. "We're really excited by the marketing gains the DEWALT team has helped us achieve and we look forward to several more years of on and off-track success with Roush and Matt," he added. In keeping with the practices of both companies, financial terms were not disclosed. "The extension of the DEWALT relationship means a lot to me," said the Cambridge, Wisconsin native. "DEWALT has been my primary sponsor since I began in the Busch Series and I'm happy to know that we'll be together many more years in the Winston Cup Series. I think we've gotten off to a great start this year with our consistency and our goal is to do our best week in and week out in order to put ourselves in position to bring DEWALT and Jack Roush a Winston Cup Championship," he added.(DeWalt Site)(5-9-2003)

Roush Street: NASCAR multi-team owner Jack Roush was the keynote speaker during a luncheon Wednesday for the Motorsports Madness 2003 event held at Concord Regional Airport by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event unites businesses related to motorsports. Roush's company employees about 1,800 people in five states, 350 of which are employed in this region. With Roush moving his world headquarters and museum to Cabarrus County, many more jobs are expected. Concord Mayor Scott Padgett honored Roush Wednesday by designating the road that leads to Roush Headquarters as Roush Place NW. It was formerly Downwind Boulevard.(Independent Tribune)(5-8-2003)

Sponsorships Up: Roush needs 4? Pennzoil looking? UPDATE 2: Car owners working the sponsorship marketplace are starting to put offers on the table, and the next few weeks will likely be filled with rumors of possible driver and team changes, rumors based on some contract negotiating points. Jack Roush needs to lock up sponsors for four of his five teams, and DEI's sponsorship deal with Pennzoil is up for renewal. The Pennzoil contract may be the hottest one at the moment, and it's not at all clear if the company will remain with DEI.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2003)UPDATE: my records show that only the #99 is unknown, the #6 is thru 2005, the #16 and #17 are at least thru 2004 and the #97 is supposedly thru 2006.(4-15-2003)

UPDATE 2: Roush Racing's president, Geoff Smith, spoke with Team Ford Racing regarding the status of the sponsorship deals on the five NASCAR Winston Cup cars his operation runs. Smith began by saying that of his five entries only Greg Biffle's #16 Granger Ford is 100 percent locked-in with sponsorship, which spans through the 2005 season. Deals are pending with Matt Kenseth's, Mark Martin's, Jeff Burton's and Kurt Busch's existing sponsors, but are not complete, yet. Pfizer, via its Viagra brand, has a contract with Martin's #6 team through the end of this year, with an option through the 2005 season. DeWalt, which sponsors Kenseth's #17 Taurus, inked a one-year deal in 2002 for space. Burton's #99 and Busch's #97 both need renewals. Smith told TFR that he's been "in detailed discussions for a period of time" with the four sponsors that are currently on Roush Cup entries and "in every case we're past the stage of money." Smith said that he hopes to have signed sponsors contracts near the end of May. His job is made somewhat easier, despite the tight economy, with programs among the strongest in the industry. As Smith works with potential sponsors the cars sit first (Kenseth) and fourth (Busch) in the point standings and the stable has two marquee drivers in Martin and Burton. Additionally, Smith said there is "interest in our programs beyond these [sponsors]."(Ford Racing)(5-1-2003)

Pocono's France award goes to Jack Roush: Winston Cup car owner Jack Roush [#'s 6,16,17,97,99] has been named the recipient of the 2003 Bill France Award of Excellence, presented annually by Pocono Raceway. The award, first presented in 1977, is named for the late NASCAR founder and is presented to a person, company or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the sport. The award is a sculpted and highly polished piece of anthracite mined in Pennsylvania and will be presented in a ceremony on June 7 at the speedway.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-26-2003)

Kenseth Leads Vote: The more than 42,000 fans who participated in first-quarter voting for Driver of the Year on the Speed Channel Web site tabbed Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth as their choice over Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip. But the 18-member media panel that voted via teleconference Wednesday leaned toward CART points leader Paul Tracy and Winston Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr. [not sure how as he was not one of the nominee's] The initial quarterly winner of 2003 will be announced during Speed News on Speed Channel at 6:00pm Saturday.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(4-17-2003)

Roush Drivers Featured on Collectibles Tins: Racing fans nationwide now have the opportunity to collect four limited edition tins designed by motorsports master artist Sam Bass featuring four of Roush Racing's drivers: Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton. Through June, each limited edition tin is free with the purchase of three-packs of Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dishes and Velveeta Shells & Cheese. "The tins are truly a collectors item for race fans nationwide," said Bass. "I'm expecting them to fly off store shelves because they are truly a unique keepsake. I'm betting they won't last in stores long!" A perfect gift for racing fans or motorsports memorabilia collectors, each of the four tins is a reproduction of a watercolor original that artfully depicts a Roush driver from the 2003 lineup, his number, two views of his car, and signature, as seen through Bass' unique perspective. Bass' renditions of Roush Racing drivers, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, and Jeff Burton showcase their determination to the sport, and their own colorful personalities. The competitive spirit they represent is evident in these intricately detailed illustrations. "It's a great honor to be selected for these limited edition tins that feature me and my Roush Racing teammates," said Jeff Burton, a Roush driver since 1996. "Known among race fans and drivers as the first officially licensed artist of this sport, Bass' participation in this program is an incredible opportunity to collect his racing memorabilia." Furthermore, Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese and Velveeta Shells & Cheese will donate $5,000 to Duke (University) Children's Hospital in Durham, NC, a cause that Burton and his wife have supported for years. The tin and three-pack, which retail for $4.99 each and can be found on special display or in the Macaroni & Cheese section of your favorite grocery store, make Bass' hot collectible illustrations available to a wider fan base, a goal shared by both Bass and Kraft. Noted John Kelly of Kraft Foods: "Considering Sam Bass is a recognizable leader in the field of graphic design and that Macaroni and Cheese is everyone's favorite, who wouldn't want to collect these one of a kind tins?" For more information on the Sam Bass Collectible tins, visit www.kraftfoods.com or www.sambass.com.(4-15-2003)

Roush Comments on the Restrictor Plate Racing: Jack Roush might have a new lease on life, and the accompanying attitude that a near death experience brings, but Roush has no love in his heart for the racing venues known as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Roush can rattle-off reason after reason why restrictor plate racing should become a thing of the past, including:
" Four races of the year cost the same as a whole program
" He's tired of hauling wrecked cars home from such tracks
" He dislikes requiring his drivers endure the experience.
But, Roush sums-up the entire exercise - taxing. Add the new no call from NASCAR angle from last week's Talladega race, where Roush had a vested interest in the winner, and he just shakes his head. "Five teams is probably a fifteen million dollar proposition," Roush said regarding the investment that is made to prepare Mark Martin's, Jeff Burton's, Matt Kenseth's, Kurt Busch's and Greg Biffle's cars for probable destruction on a plate track.(See full story at Ford Racing)(4-14-2003)

Skinner and Kenseth - No DNF's at 'Dega: #4-Mike Skinner and #17-Matt Kenseth are the only active drivers with at least three starts at Talladega who have not posted at least one DNF. Skinner has been running at the end of all 12 of his Winston Cup starts at Talladega, even though he was involved in Sunday's big wreck. Kenseth had done that for seven races.(Alabama Live)(4-7-2003)

#17 Special Scheme at Texas: Matt Kenseth's #17 DEWALT team will have a different look this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Smirnoff Ice will be on the hood and deck lid of the #17 Ford to kick-off a new partnership with the team. The crew will also be dressed in Smirnoff Ice uniforms. Smirnoff Ice will be the primary sponsor on Kenseth's car for seven races this season, starting with The Winston at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.(DeWalt Racing)(3-27-2003)

Roush 'Virtual' Engine? Some rival engine men say they believe that Roush Racing has been using an experimental engine-design program that creates a virtual engine inside a computer. If that is true, then Roush could be on the verge of a major breakthrough. And that would certainly be worth the risk of blowing a few motors. However, those rivals say that the problem at the moment is that those new engine designs need a lot more track time to prove their worthiness.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-25-2003)

What flew off Kenseth's car when he did his spin in the infield after winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway? Nothing. It was part of a drainage system in the grass of the infield at the track.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio - Subscription Required)(3-5-2003)

Kenseth wins at Las Vegas: in a race attended and enjoyed by Jayski, #17-Matt Kenseth won the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. DEI teammates #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 2nd and #15-Michael Waltrip was third, followed by #18-Bobby Labonte and #20-Tony Stewart.
See results at Jayski - Las Vegas Results or ThatsRacin.com and more links on my Racing Results page.(3-2-2003)

taken in Victory Lane by Jayski

17th the best for #17 in 7 wins: Matt Kenseth started 17th on Sunday, the same as his car number. Kenseth has now won seven Winston Cup races and hasn't started better than 17th in any of them.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-3-2003)

Kenseth and Smirnoff Ice? UPDATE: hearing #17-Matt Kenseth will race either 8 Cup or 8 BGN races with Smirnoff Ice as the sponsor, the BGN thing makes sense, since he is running 15 races with Bayer/Alka Seltzer, not sure about the Cup part of the rumor.(1-25-2003)UPDATE: hearing this is for 8 Cup races, with at least one Richmond race to be part of it.(1-27-2003)UPDATE 2: Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will sponsor Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford in a limited program of 2003 Cup races, beginning with The Winston all-star race in May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The program includes at least co-primary sponsorship of Kenseth's Ford Taurus, whose five wins in 2002 led the series, for eight races and secondary status for the balance of the season. The partnership includes driver appearances, the use of show cars and image rights, a large hospitality program and an extensive social responsibility agenda. A Smirnoff spokesperson said an advertising program was in the works featuring Kenseth, who said that was one of the "coolest" aspects of the program. Kenseth will drive the Smirnoff Ice car at The Winston, Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Brickyard 400, Southern 500, Richmond (Sept), Talladega (Sept) and Atlanta (Oct). The race at Texas on March 30 is a co-primary event with Dewalt Tools.(NASCAR.com, see an image of the car there - do NOT email it to me)(2-8-2003)

New Assoc for Kenseth:GE Plastics, a leading worldwide producer of engineering thermoplastics and a division of General Electric Company announced a one-year sponsorship of the #17 DeWalt Ford, driven by Matt Kenseth. GE Plastics is the manufacturer of LEXAN resin, a material that has long played an important role in NASCAR safety and stock car performance. LEXAN resin is one of the toughest and most versatile polymers in existence and can be found in everything from the bullet resistant canopies on fighter jets to camping equipment, computers, cell phones, CDs and DVDs. 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of GE Plastics' invention of LEXAN polycarbonate. The company is celebrating this important milestone with events and activities throughout the year. For more than 15 years, LEXAN polycarbonate technology has contributed to driver safety and is a critical component to the sport of NASCAR. Most NASCAR stock cars feature front windshields composed of LEXAN resin. The LEXAN resin is then coated with a patented GE polycarbonate adhesive film that can quickly be peeled away during a race when it is soiled by oil, grease, and other race debris, revealing a new, clean windshield. LEXAN resin is also used in the shells of drivers' helmets because it is lightweight and impact resistant.(Business Wire - need to register to read)(2-7-2003)

Million Dollar Challenge again UPDATE: DeWalt's is set to launch their Million Dollar Challenge promotion once again giving fans and end-users a chance to compete for one million dollars.(Roush Racing)(1-28-2003)UPDATE: hearing the #17 Ford will run the Million Dollar Challenge at the Budweiser Shootout and then at Phoenix, supposedly the same scheme as last year, with a few minor decal changes(2-5-2003)

Kenseth Re-ups with Roush? UPDATE: hearing it was reported on Wisconsin's The LTN Hour radio show that Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford with Roush Racing, has signed a four(4) year extention to remain at Roush. His contract was due to run out at the end of the 2004 season.(2-2-2003)UPDATE: Roush Racing announced today that Matt Kenseth has been signed to new multi-year contract to continue driving for Roush Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "The renewed commitments that Kurt and Matt have made to the organization, and the reciprocal commitments that Jack Roush has made to them, will help solidify the already strong momentum that Roush Racing has in the industry," said Geoff Smith, Roush Racing president. "All Roush Racing drivers are now signed for long term periods, which will keep 'silly season' disruptions to a minimum this year and allow all of our teams to focus solely on racing and building sponsorship value," Smith continued. Said owner Jack Roush, "The signing of Matt and Kurt, along with the agreements already in place with our other outstanding drivers, completes our competitive Winston Cup structure and provides us with an unmatched and quite remarkable line up for the next several years."(Charlotte Observer)(2-3-2003)

Biffle to use Kenseth backup at Daytona: #16-Greg Biffle said that the team plans to use a backup car from teammate #17-Matt Kenseth for the Daytona 500 rather than one of their cars following a poor test session during NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona earlier this month.(NASCAR PR)(1-29-2003)

2002 News

#17 Crew Changes? hearing that the tire changers [Phil Drye and Dave Smith] for the #17 DeWalt
Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Championship title team have left [Smith to the #24 and Drye to the #8 team], supposedly replaced by #17 Front Tire Carrier Justin Nottestad and Jeremy West [from the #2 Truck team](12-2-2002)UPDATE: Robbie Reiser, crew chief for Roush Racing's #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth, has named two new pit crew members for the 2003 Winston Cup season. Reiser has named Justin Nottestad and Jeremy West to the squad that has won the last two Unocal 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competitions. Nottestad moves up from front tire carrier to the tire changer position with the team, while West, who is new to Roush Racing, will be the rear tire changer. They replace Phil Drye, front tire changer, and Dave Smith, rear tire changer. "We hated to see those guys go," said Reiser. "But we understand that they made the decision to move to another team because they felt like that was what was best for them personally. I can appreciate and respect that. I knew it wasn't going to be easy to replace those two -- they're both really talented -- but we have filled the positions, and we're excited about next year."(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-3-2003)

Kenseth's Dad to Promote Track UPDATE: Madison International Speedway will have its third different owner since the track re-opened in 1992. Terry Kunes is in the process of finalizing the purchase of Madison International Speedway. Mr. Kunes has announced that Roy Kenseth, father of Winston Cup star Matt Kenseth, will be the promoter/manager of the Speedway.(Madison International Speedway site)(11-19-2002)UPDATE: Madison (Wis.) International Speedway has been sold to Chicago-area businessman Terry Kunes and will be managed by Roy Kenseth, father of Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth. The sale was announced Saturday.(Rockford Register Star)(12-12-2002)

A Kenseth Stat: If things don't improve at Homestead, Matt Kenseth is poised to post the worst points finish by any driver who won the most races on the Cup circuit since 1976 when 9th place points finisher David Pearson had 10 wins, 1 more than champion Cale Yarborough. Pearson and the Wood Brothers team were only part time in 1976 and won 10 of 22 races they entered.(Matt of RacingOne)(11-11-2002)

IRWIN Rough to Finish Award: Despite running out of fuel earlier in the race, Matt Kenseth and the #17 team used a two-tire pit stop late in Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway to score their NASCAR Winston Cup Series-leading fifth victory of the season. For his race-winning pit strategy, team crew chief Robbie Reiser takes home this week's IRWIN "Rough to the Finish" Award. Starting in the 28th position, Kenseth quickly moved up to 10th position on lap 28 with a lightning fast pit stop under caution. Kenseth continued his charge to the front, eventually taking the lead before pitting under the green flag. As he made his way down pit road, Kenseth ran out of gas. The team scurried to spray ether in the car to restart it, and Kenseth made it back out onto the track in 24th place. Kenseth continued to move through the field, but the turning point of the race came on lap 259 when the team pitted for the final time for two tires. Kenseth exited pit road in the lead with 46 laps to go in the 312-lap event and never looked back. "I am proud of this team for the persistence and determination they showed all day today," said Reiser. "We put our best motor in and watched Matt drive that thing up through traffic all day long. He picked 'em off one at a time, and raced this race track well. He did a heck of a job, and my hat' s off to him and our whole race team. That just goes to show how strong we can be."
Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, Irwin, makers of professional power tool accessories like Marathon Plus saw blades and Speedbor flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor the crew chief who had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to help his team to a strong finish. The IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award includes an assortment of tools for the crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the racing team's name.. The year-end winner of the crew chief points standings will win a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.. Race fans wanting to make a contribution to the Fund may do so by sending it to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund, PO Box 443, Ellerbe, NC 28338. In addition to the crew chief award, Irwin is also sponsoring the weekly nationally syndicated radio show, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", throughout the upcoming year.(Golin Harris PR)(11-14-2002)

One Million Dollar Winner: Contractor Jon Smith of Delaware, OH knew he was fast with a cordless drill. Now he has a million dollars to prove it. Smith beat out 15 other contestants Sunday in DEWALT's national Million Dollar Challenge cordless screwdriving contest sponsored by Chevy Trucks. To win the million, the Ohio man had to sink five drywall screws flush into a piece of pine wood in less than seven seconds with a 14.4-volt cordless drill/driver. He did it in 6.77 seconds. Smith and the other finalists were seeded tournament-style during the contest, which ended Sunday at the Phoenix International Raceway. Contestants were eliminated until the two fastest men clashed head-to-head Sunday at the Start/Finish line before Sunday's Winston Cup Race in front of 100,000 spectators. Smith beat out Mike Fischer from Illinois by one second for his chance to become a millionaire. Then, in his last "screw-off" calmly picked up his drill and drove out a time of 6.77 seconds to win the grand prize. DEWALT and Chevy Trucks launched the skill contest earlier this year. From April through August more than 50,000 people entered local qualifying contests in 100 cities nationwide, including Phoenix. The fastest 460 local qualifiers were then narrowed to 16 finalists, who each won a new segment busting 2003 Chevy Express contractor's van with industry exclusives such as all wheel drive, left hand door and unique access panels filled with $2,000 worth of DEWALT tools and accessories.(GM PR)(11-11-2002)

Army looking at other options: In addition to continuing talks with MB2 (#36 Pontiac) and Andy Petree Racing (#33 and #55) about a 2003 sponsorship package, the U.S. Army is also talking to Roush Racing. MB2 and APR would likely be 1/2 season primary sponsorship deals with another company running the other 1/2 while Roush would be a major associate sponsorship deal on the #17 DeWalt Ford.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(10-4-2002)

Kenseth Spotter has team in place, included BGN: NASCAR All-Pro Series driver, Toby Porter of Greenville, SC, and Dirt Late Model driver, Adam Stevens of Portsmouth, OH, have been named as the primary drivers for MJ Motorsports [owned by #17 spotter Mike Calinoff] for the 2003 season. Porter, who has scored two wins on the All-Pro Series this season, will drive the Dodge Intrepids on the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. In addition, Porter will compete in a minimum of five BGN races in 2003 for MJ Motorsports. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to run the full Pro Cup Series with MJ Motorsports," said Porter, "The alliance that Mike and Jenn have made with Team Jesel in the Busch Series will give us the resources to go for the (Hooters Pro Cup) championship." Stevens, who at 23 has numerous wins on dirt, will compete as a Rookie and pilot the teams NASCAR Late Model Super Truck Dodges at the Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway. He currently works as a mechanical engineer for Petty Enterprises. "I am confident that a weekly racing program will help condition me for the future," said Stevens, "we've got great equipment and I feel that I can adapt well to asphalt racing." MJ Motorsports has recently formed a technical alliance with Team Jesel, who fields Dodges on the NASCAR Busch Series for drivers Casey Mears and Hank Parker, Jr. "I don't think that we could have picked two better drivers than Toby and Adam to spearhead our foray to the next level of motorsports," said Team Owner Mike Calinoff, who works for Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth and Busch Series competitor Casey Mears as their Team Spotter, "their talents will speak for themselves." Sponsorship announcements for both teams are forthcoming. More information at mikecalinoff.com.(9-17-2002)

NAPCM Pit Crew Of The Week - #17: Hard work along with great pit stops all night took the #17 DeWalt Crew from a 25th place starting position to tire troubles (twice) and finally to a first place finish. Congratulations #17 DeWalt Crew on overcoming adversity and earning the title of this week's NAPCM "Pit Crew Of The Week", sponsored by Toxabsorb, "21st Century Spill Magnet" and the "Official Spill Response Agent of the National Association Of Pit Crew Members". Visit www.toxabsorb.com for all Toxabsorb household and pit road uses. Check out the latest Mechanix Wear "Pit Crew Of The Year" standings, available ONLY at the National Association Of Pit Crew Members web site.(www.napcm.com)(9-11-2002)

Kenseth wins 4th race of 2002: winning at Richmond. It was Kenseth's 4th Cup win of 2002, he leads in that category. It was 2nd time a driver had come form 25th at Richmond to win (Bobby Allison did it in 1969). #12-Ryan Newman ended up 2nd again.Race Results at ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com
and a Jayski race rundown, caution info and notes at the The Monte Carlo 400 with the Looney Tunes Race Info page.(9-7-2002)

Kenseth wins at Slinger: Matt Kenseth hadn't raced at Slinger Speedway in nearly three years, but his performance Tuesday night in the Miller Lite Nationals made it look as though he'd never left. Kenseth won the race and added another Nationals trophy to display alongside the one the Cambridge native collected in 1994, before he moved to the South to pursue his NASCAR dreams. As a near-capacity crowd of about 7,000 cheered Kenseth's victory, Lowell Bennett and Eric Fransen waged a whale of a side-by-side battle for second place, but at the checkers, Bennett was nearly half a lap behind. Two of the other visitors were involved in the first caution 20 laps into the feature. Ken Schrader, a longtime Winston Cup competitor, was working on Dave Teske when Teske spun and collected four-time Nationals champion Dick Trickle. The accident wrecked the bleeder valve in Trickle's left rear tire, causing the tire to loose air pressure. With the tire going down, he fell two laps down before he could get it changed, and he ended up 13th. Scott Wimmer, a Winston Cup and Busch driver from Wausau, ended up sixth despite brake problems and a spin that sent him to the back of the field. Rich Bickle, a two-time Nationals champion now racing in the CTS, struggled with handling and ignition trouble and finished 19th.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-24-2002)

Kenseth wins, Stewart Upset.....in Canada: Matt Kenseth pulled past CASCAR driver Don Thomson to ruin a fairy-tale ending at the Canada Day shootout at Cayuga Speedway before more than 15,000 fans -- the biggest crowd to watch an oval race in this country. Thomson, who had led most of the race, lost his chance to best Kennseth with eight laps to go in the 100-lap event. Kenseth, who already has won three Winston Cup races this season, was among six NASCAR drivers who raced in the event against Canada's best. Al Turner started third and finished third while battling Pete Gibbons and Thomson the entire 100 laps. Winston Cup stars Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney and Johnny Benson were never a factor in the race. CTS points leader Ted Musgrave ran in the top five for almost the whole race, but a pre-race decision to go light on fuel cost him a chance to win when his #1 Dodge ran out of gas with five laps left. In an incident near the end of the second 50-lap qualifying race Schrader and Stewart got together in turn two with the No. 20 Pontiac of Stewart ending up getting turned around. Once righted, Stewart went after the #36 of Schrader and pushed him into a spin in turn three. An obviously upset Stewart drove his Pete Vanderwyst-prepared Pontiac behind the pit wall for repairs without trying to better his place on the grid. (Toronto Sun and also see a story at WayMoreSports.com)(7-1-2002)

Dewalt Re-ups with Roush: DeWalt Power Tools has decided to return to Roush Racing as Matt Kenseth's sponsor next season, according to a story in this week's NASCAR Winston Cup Scene. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith says in this week's issue that the agreement has been reached with only the final details being ironed out. "Now you can take DeWalt and Matt Kenseth out of the rumor mill," Smith said. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the publication says the deal is for 2003 and that both sides hold options for 2004 and beyond.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-19-2002)

DeWalt and AT&T work together, special AT&T scheme: DEWALT Power Tools announced it will continue its marketing alliance with AT&T Broadband by spotlighting a special AT&T Broadband paint scheme at three races during the 2002 season. The AT&T Broadband paint scheme will be the primary signage on the #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth at the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at
Sears Point, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona and the New Hampshire 300 at NHIS. In addition to the specially designed cars, AT&T will be featured underneath the DEWALT logo on the rear quarter panels of the car for the duration of the 2002 season.(Adair Promotions)(6-19-2002)

Kenseth wins at Michigan in the Sirius Satellite Radio 400. It is Kenseth's first ever win at Michigan, his thrid race win of 2002 and 4th career win. #88-Dale Jarrett almost got him at the end in a close finish after a red flag to allow the race to finish under green. See my Sirius Satellite Radio 400 Race Info page, for a rundown, caution info, some notes on the race, etc. Results can be see at ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com.(6-16-2002)

DEI and DeWalt? UPDATE: the LTN Radio show reports that Dale Earnhardt Inc is talking to DeWalt Tools to sponsor a team, DeWalt's contract with Roush Racing and the #17 Matt Kenseth team is over at the end of 2002. Roush is in negotations with DeWalt also.(6-3-2002)AND - Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)UPDATE: Officials from DeWalt Tools have told Roush Racing President Geoff Smith that it wants to return as sponsor of Matt Kenseth's Ford for 2003. But until a deal is signed, Smith says he will listen if other perspective sponsors come calling.
The contract that expires at the end of this season prohibited DeWalt from negotiating with other teams until June 1. Smith's heard that the company has talked with Dale Earnhardt Inc. regarding a deal for next year, but isn't sure if those talks are ongoing. Kenseth's contract is up following the 2003 season, but it's expected that talks of an extension will begin following this season.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-13-2002)

Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)

Kenseth gets BGN sponsor: Bayer Consumer Care is pleased to announce that it will partner with Reiser Enterprises and driver Matt Kenseth to compete in 15 selected BGN races throughout the 2003 racing season. The Bayer Consumer Care products of Bayer Aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Alka-Seltzer Plus and Aleve will alternate as primary sponsors on the #17 Ford owned by Wisconsin natives, John and Robbie Reiser. The 2003 season will mark the 11th season that Bayer Consumer Care has served as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Busch Series.. Over the past 10 years, Bayer Consumer Care has teamed with such racing notables as Chad Little, Terry Labonte, Buckshot Jones and most recently Tony Raines. Bayer"s association with NASCAR has helped to produce 10 wins, including six in 1996 with Chad Little. Kenseth will carry the Bayer Consumer Care colors for the first time in 2003 during the season opening BGB event at the Daytona International Speedway. Prior to last week's event at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, Bayer informed BACE Motorsports that Bayer Consumer Care would not be returning to their team as a primary sponsor for the 2003 racing season. In addition, the No. 17 Reiser Enterprise entry is also seeking major associate sponsorship for the 15-event schedule.(Motorsports ManagementPR)(5-31-2002)

Kenseth and Phones: PTN MEDIA, INC.announced that it has entered into an agreement with driver Matt Kenseth, to develop branded mobile phones, face plates and subscription services including Kenseth news and games delivered to mobile phones. Kenseth drives the #17 Ford which is owned by Roush Racing. The primary sponsor of his Ford Taurus is DeWalt Tools. The agreement calls for the creation of Matt Kenseth branded mobile phone handsets, phone covers as well as a subscription service which may include premium content, games, and ring tones. Subscribers to premium services will be able to receive daily messages from him on a variety of subjects such as qualifying, race results and fan club information. Additionally, subscribers will be able to use their phones to receive special communications prior to a race or personal appearance.(Business Wire)(5-30-2002)

Kenseth and DEI? Word from team sources that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would like to have Matt Kenseth (#17) as a teammate. Earnhardt and Kenseth were good buddies their rookie season, and Kenseth - who is low-key and would be unlikely to overshadow Junior - is a very solid driver who rarely tears up equipment.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-18-2002)

Roush Drivers Locked In thru 2003 UPDATE 3 But: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith says all his drivers are under contract through next season. The only negotiations he's involved in now are with Matt Kenseth's sponsor, DeWalt. And those talks are proceeding without any outside interference - the two have a "good faith" negotiation policy in effect until May 31. After that, each becomes a free agent. Smith was involved in the original contract between Elliott Sadler and Wood Brothers Racing. He said that contract can only be dissolved if it is beneficial to both.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-5-2002)UPDATE: hearing a bit 'out there' rumor from many sources saying Jeff Burton currently driving the #99 CITGO Ford and his crew chief may move to the Hendrick #25 Chevy. BUT last I heard Burton is signed thru 2005 with Roush.(5-6-2002)UPDATE 2: Rumors had Jeff Burton possibly taking over in the #25 car after reports of Burton being spotted at Hendrick Motorsports. Burton told reporters Wednesday he's confused about where he's supposed to be because the day he was supposedly seen at Hendrick he was in Boca Raton, Florida. Burton says he's 100% committed to Roush racing and sponsor CITGO. "Rick Hendrick and I have had no sit down conversation about me driving his cars nor anyone else. I'm committed to where I am. I have a true dedication for Roush Racing which I've shown over the period of time, and to give all that away would be stupid. Where I am is where I need to be and that's where I intend to stay". Noting that all of the Roush cars are currently top-10 in the point standings, Burton said "For me to say that I need to go some place
else and race doesn't make any sense". Burton spent part of Wednesday pumping gas and giving away Coca-Cola at a Citgo station near Lowes Motor Speedway as drivers lined up around the block waiting for Burton to fill-up their cars.(PRN's Garage Pass)(5-8-2002)UPDATE 2: When the Winston Cup Series arrived at Richmond, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth were part of a rumor mill that has cranked up just 10 races into the season. According to garage-area gossip, both drivers are talking to Hendrick Motorsports about replacing Jerry Nadeau on the #25 team, with each taking their crew chiefs with them. Both were also mentioned as possible replacements for Ricky Rudd at Robert Yates Racing if Rudd retires. Like Smith, Burton and crew chief Frank Stoddard shrugged off the rumors as nothing more than gossip. "The truth is, I've had absolutely no conversation about driving the 25," Burton says. "I have not been to Hendrick Motorsports to sit down and talk. That's what I heard yesterday, that I was over there the other night. None of that's true." According to Kenseth, neither has he. "That's the first time I heard that one," he said. "I don't really pay too much attention to all that stuff to tell you the truth. The same thing happened to me last year and I'm still in the same place that I was last year, so I don't really get too concerned over it." For the record, Kenseth has a contract with Roush through 2004. Burton, meanwhile, has a long-term contract that was just extended two years ago, Smith said. Burton's sponsor, Citgo, is signed through 2003, but the agreement for DeWalt Tools to sponsor Kenseth ends after this season. Smith says, however, that he is in negotiations with DeWalt on a new deal.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(5-9-2002)

Reiser wins Irwin award: Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT racing team showed their determination and resilience in fighting their way back from adversity early on in Sunday's rain-delayed Pontiac Excitement 400 to finish in sixth-place. As a result, team crew chief
Robbie Reiser takes home this week's "IRWIN Rough to the Finish" award for the team's efforts at Richmond International Raceway.Body Dynamic PR)(5-8-2002)

#17 Crew Member needs surgey: Car chief and jackman of the #17 DeWalt Racing crew, Jeff Vandermoss, sustained a lower back injury that requires immediate surgery to repair. While recovering, Russ Strupp, crew chief of the Reiser Enterprises #17 BGN car, will fill in as jackman and assist crew member Dave Smith with car chief duties. Vandermoss is expected to resume his car chief duties approximately two weeks after his surgery, but will be unable to function as jackman for at least two months.(Roush Racing)(5-3-2002)

Kenseth fastest at Sears Point on Tuesday: #17-Matt Kenseth posted the top time during the first day of a NASCAR Winston Cup test session on Tuesday at Sears Point Raceway. Kenseth, one of six drivers testing the 10-turn, 2-mile road course in preparation for June's Dodge/Save Mart 350, toured the circuit in 1 minute, 18.42 seconds (91.813mph). He was followed by rookie #48-Jimmie Johnson (1:18.98 - 91.162) and #28-Ricky Rudd (low 1:19s - 91.139), a four-time pole-sitter at Sears Point. Other testers included #87-Ron Fellows (1:19.50 - 90.566), #97-Kurt Busch (1:19.70 - 90.339) and rookie #12-Ryan Newman (1:19.80 - 90.226). One change drivers encountered Tuesday was a tighter transition between Turns 12-1 because of the permanent separation of the road course from the drag strip, which has been a long-time criticism of Sears Point Raceway. Portions of the track have also been repaved. The facility is in the final stages of $50 million Modernization Plan. Busch, who won a NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series event at Sears Point in 1999, was pleased that the Winston Cup cars will no longer have to use the drag strip. Other improvements drivers will find for race weekend (June 20-23) include increased runoff at almost every turn on the road course, as well as a full 43 stalls on pit road, thus eliminating the need for the infamous "Gilligan's Island" on the inside of Turn 11. The entire circuit will be repaved in September.(Sears Point PR)(4-24-2002)

Kenseth's car too low? UPDATE 3 $30,000 fine: hearing rumors that the #17 Ford that won the Subway 400 at Rockingham has been found to be too low in it's roof height. Supposedly it was reported on Speed Channel. If true, a fine would be levied but the win will stand..(2-24-2002)UPDATE: Kenseth's car was found to be lower than the minimum 51-inch height requirement in post-race inspection - an infraction that usually brings with it a fine but no change the results of the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-24-2002)AND: After the race, NASCAR inspectors discovered that the height of Kenseth's car was a quarter-inch below the minimum of 51 inches. "As in recent years, this decision has not affected the outcome of race positions and should not in this case," said Danielle Humphrey, NASCAR's senior manager of communications. "Any penalties and/or fines may be decided (today).''(Fayetteville Observer)UPDATE 2: NASCAR will not make an announcement on a fine or penalty until Tuesday.(2-25-2002)UPDATE 3 - #17 Penalty Announced: - NASCAR Officials announced that Robbie Reiser, crew chief of the #17 Ford Taurus, received a $30,000 fine for a rule violation found during post-race inspection following Sunday's Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C. Reiser was penalized under Section 12-4-T in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book, "Any car that is found to be under the specified height requirement after the completion... of the race." The minimum height requirement is 51 inches - the #17 car was approximately 1/4 of an inch too low.(NASCAR PR)AND In a radio interview on "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons" on the Performance Racing Network Monday night, Kenseth said his car was too low because of a dent in the roof, which is where the height measurement is taken. Kenseth he did not know if the dent was made when he leaned over the car to celebrate with his crew, or by some sponsor products placed on the car's roof in victory lane ceremonies. Kenseth said all of the other parts of his car checked out OK in the postrace inspection.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-26-2002)

NAPCM Pit Crew of the Week: The #17 DeWalt Crew kept Matt in contention all day with lightening fast pit stops. Congratulations to the #17 DeWalt Crew for earning their trip to victory lane at the Rockingham Subway 400.(NAPCM PR)(2-26-2002)

First from 25th? hearing that it is the first time a Winston Cup race has been won from the 25th starting spot in history. Matt Kenseth started from the 25th starting spot at Rockingham (2-24-2002). It was the only spot of the top 33 starting spots that there wasn't a winner.(2-24-2002)

Million Dollar Scheme: DeWalt and driver Matt Kenseth will have a Million Dollar Challenge paint scheme on the #17 Riush Racing Ford as Kenseth tries for the Winston No Bull 5 Million in Las Vegas on March 3rd. See my Paint Schemes Gallery for the image. DEWALT Power Tools is preparing to introduce the promotion that will leverage their presence in NASCAR racing and in the Power Tool industry in 2002 and beyond. The DEWALT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE will allow tool users everywhere to drill screws for a million dollars. Each year DEWALT has been in racing, fans across America have participated in the DEWALT CHALLENGE. Developed in the spring of 1992 by members of the DEWALT Marketing Team, the DEWALT CHALLENGE revolutionized event marketing within the Power Tool industry and has become a fixture at every DEWALT event since its inception. This year, DEWALT plans to elevate the stakes. The DEWALT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE will launch in the city known for its high stakes, Las Vegas, the same time DEWALT Racing's driver Matt Kenseth will battle for the Winston Million, on the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The course of the challenge will last for approximately six months throughout the prime builder's season. Contenders will have over 300 opportunities to take the challenge at DEWALT events throughout the United States as they vie for the chance to win a million dollars. Qualifying events will be held at various power tool distributors, on residential and commercial job sites, and at various NASCAR Winston Cup races. Throughout the course of the events, contestants will also be eligible to win one of 16 Chevrolet Utility vehicles, over $50,000 worth of DEWALT power tools and accessories, one of four Bombardier ATVs, and various other DEWALT prizes. Participants with the fastest times will advance to one of 16 regional events held at Chevrolet Truck dealerships. Regional winners will then advance to the DEWALT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE finals in Phoenix, AZ. The sixteen finalists will win an all-inclusive trip to Phoenix International Raceway during the NASCAR Winston Cup weekend to compete for the chance to win the grand prize of one million dollars.(DEWALT Racing PR)(1-18-2002)

Kraft Foods and Roush Racing Launch Sponsorship: Roush Racing announced that eight Kraft brands have become associate team sponsors on all five Winston Cup cars in the Roush stable, as well as one Busch series car. Kraft will launch its racing program in Daytona as the primary sponsor of Mark Martin's #6 Kraft Ford Taurus in the pre-season Budweiser Shootout on February 10. All eight of the participating Kraft brands will make their debut - through signage on the car - as Martin kicks off the program. Race fans will have Roush drivers and Kraft brands to root for once the official racing starts. Brand logos will be positioned prominently on the car of each respective driver. Mark Martin's #6 Ford will include Maxwell House Coffee as an associate sponsor in the regular Winston Cup schedule. Jeff Burton's #99 Ford features Velveeta, while Matt Kenseth's #17 Taurus features Kraft Singles, Miracle Whip Salad Dressing and Kraft Mayonnaise as associate sponsors. Kurt Busch's #97 Ford brandishes the Tombstone Pizza brand as an associate sponsor and Greg Biffle's #16 Winston Cup ride and #60 BGN Ford highlights the Taco Bell Home Originals brand as an associate sponsor.(PR), see my Paint Schemes Gallery for a couple images of the car/scheme - links fixed(1-18-2002)

Cup spotter to field race team: NASCAR Spotter, Mike Calinoff, will take on the role of Car Owner this year, as he announces the formation of MJ Motorsports. The team will field Fords out of their new Mooresville, NC shop in the NASCAR-sanctioned Late Model Truck Series at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway for 18-year-old Arthur "Aazie" Zimblemann. Calinoff works for Matt Kenseth in the Winston Cup and Busch Series. Known as the "Wizard of Aaz", Zimblemann, a standout and fan favorite in Sprints and Modifieds throughout Iowa and the Midwest, moved to Mooresville, NC this past January to pursue a career in NASCAR racing. A recent test session at Hickory Motor Speedway yielded positive results and prompted Calinoff to form the team. "Aazie is really a terrific talent," said Calinoff, "his focus and vision was very appealing. I have been looking for this type of situation for the past year - an opportunity to cultivate a team in a local setting, with a young driver, and then advance our efforts to the next level." The 2002 NASCAR Winston Racing Series season at the Hickory Motor Speedway begins on April 6th.(MJ Motorsports PR)(1-3-2002)

2001 News

DeWalt and Watch The Bulls, Win the Tools: DeWalt Industrial Tools has partnered with the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR) and NBC Sports to create the "Watch The Bulls, Win the Tools" promotion. DeWalt will use its NASCAR Winston Cup sponsorship of the #17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford Taurus to advertise the November 25th live telecast of the PBR Bud Light Challenge on NBC. The #17 DeWalt Ford, driven by Matt Kenseth, will sport the PBR World Challenge and NBC Sports logos on the hood of the car. NBC announcers will promote the event as Kenseth vies for a victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway. The "Watch the Bulls, Win the Tools" promotion will allow race viewers a chance to enter to win $5,000 in DeWalt Power Tools. Viewers will be given a password at the World Challenge intermission and will have to log on to www.dewalt.com/pbr in order to register to win. DeWalt is thrilled about the partnership and the opportunity to combine two
successful organizations, NASCAR and the PBR.(Grandstand PR)(11-15-2001)

Pit Crew Competition at the Rock UPDATE #17 WINS and results: The annual Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition will be held Saturday, November 3rd at North Carolina Speedway, and Jeff Burton along with his #99 Citgo SUPERGARD Ford crew are preparing to defend their title as the "Fastest Pit Crew" in NASCAR racing. Burton and team won last fall's pit crew competition and set a new world record with a time of 18.355 seconds. They defeated fellow competitors John Andretti, Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the $26,000 prize and bragging rights for a year as the best pit crew in the business. There will be a few changes in the line-up for this year's competition. Only those crews and cars of the top 25 car owners in the current 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship car owner point standings as of the completion of the October 28 NASCAR event will be eligible to participate. Total prize money for this year's event is $76,000, with $30,000 going to the winner and a $1,000 bonus if they set a new world record. The object of the competition is for each crew to empty 14 gallons of gas into the tank of the race car from two cans, each holding seven gallons, and change left and right-side tires in as short a time as possible. Penalties will be applied for loose lug nuts, fuel spills, and fuel left in can. Time will be added to each team's speed based on penalties they receive. The team with the fastest time becomes the new champion. The Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition is the only NASCAR sanctioned pit crew contest on the circuit. The event has been held annually at North Carolina Speedway since 1967. See more at the North Carolina Speedway site(10-31-2001)UPDATE: Matt Kenseth's #17 team kept the Union 76-Rockingham Pit Crew Competition championship in the Roush Racing family on Saturday, ripping off a record-time to beat 24 other teams at North Carolina Speedway. Kenseth's team, led by crew chief Robbie Reiser, changed four tires and emptied two gas cans, each containing seven gallons of fuel, into the #17 Ford in 17.695 seconds. That broke the record of 18.355 seconds set by Jeff Burton's team, also part of Roush Racing, in last year's competition.(See Full story at That's Racin') and see the National Association of Pit Crew Members site for the Rank and Times of 2001 Pit Crew Challenge(11-4-2001)

Roush Team Intact for 2002: [#6-Mark] Martin is not retiring, moving on, slowing down or considering the end of his career. He is spending next season racing with Roush Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. According to Martin, neither is considering leaving the Roush fold. They plan to figure out the problems that have caused each of the teams to struggle this season. Martin's contract runs through 2005 - he's not thinking that the end of that contract will be the end of his commitment to racing.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-14-2001)

Checking Temps at RIR UPDATE: Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth will have new additions to their respective pit crews next weekend at Richmond. The additional pit workers will concentrate on how the drivers replace the fluids they lose during a race, as well as the cars' onboard temperatures. Scientists from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute will condict a pilot study on Martin and Kenseth to determine sweat loss, cardiobascular responses and heat stress in drivers during a NASCAR race. During an average race, cockpit temperatures can climb to 140 degrees, putting drivers at risk for dehydration and heat illness. The race-day test will help provide drivers with fluid replacement and heat illness prevention recommendations.(That's Racin')(9-3-2001)UPDATE: #6-Mark Martin, and #17-Matt Kenseth, were the subjects of a hydration study that was conducted at the Chevy Monte Carlo 400 in Richmond. Scientists from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) monitored Martin and Kenseth throughout the 400-lap, three-hour and 13-minute event to determine how well NASCAR drivers replace the fluids they lose through sweat during a race. In the grueling heat of a race, cockpit temperatures can often soar well beyond 115 degrees, placing drivers at risk for dehydration, heat illness and impaired performance. Martin's estimated total sweat loss during the race was 4.5 liters (153 ounces), nearly equivalent to 10 lbs. of bodyweight. However, Martin replaced 78% of his total sweat loss by drinking 3.52 liters (119 ounces) of fluid. Martin still experienced a final bodyweight loss of more than 2 lbs., and a post-race urine sample indicated significant dehydration even with this modest 2-lb. fluid deficit. Kenseth also completed the race, but was off the track and out of his car for nearly an hour due to a mid-race crash. Because he spent less time exposed to intensive cockpit temperatures, Kenseth's fluid loss was less dramatic than Martin's. According to GSSI, Kenseth lost 2.1 liters (70 ounces) of sweat. Yet, by drinking 1.66 liters (56 ounces) of fluid during the race, Kenseth
was able to replace 81% of the fluid he lost, leaving him fairly well hydrated. Overall, both Martin and Kenseth experienced levels of fluid loss similar to those experienced by other endurance and team sport competitors, such as marathoners and football players. But they did a better job of replacing fluids than several athletes GSSI has studied from these sports. For more information about sports nutrition and exercise science pertaining to The Gatorade Company, visit the Gatorade Sports Science Institute web site at www.gssiweb.com or gatorade.com.(Roush Racing PR)(9-26--2001)

Kenseth on the Today Show: Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth will appear on NBC's "Today Show" on Thursday(Aug 9th). The nature of the segment has not been disclosed, but one of Kenseth's #17 Ford show cars will also be used in the segment(That's Racin')(8-4-2001)UPDATE: Matt Kenseth will be on the show at approximately 9:40am/et(8-9-2001)

#17 Paint Scheme at Indy: The #17 DeWalt Ford will debut its New Products paint scheme which will run from Indianapolis through Dover. The paint scheme is an integration of the new product line and the designs submitted through the DEWALT 2002 Paint Scheme contest. The winners were Robert Williams Lutherville, MD and Brian Grossman of Cincinnati, OH.(Grandstand PR), plus the car will feature the logo of Firehouse.com(7-31-2001)

DeWalt Paint Scheme Winners: Close to 7,000 entries were received... and DeWalt and Matt Kenseth announced the winners at DEWALT Employee Appreciation Day earlier this summer. Jesse "Ed" Pack with his Guaranteed Tough. Carbide Saw Blade Scheme and David Stanley with the DEWALT Yellow Magma Scheme have been chosen as the winners of DEWALT's 2002 Racing Paint Scheme Contest. Each will receive 2 tickets and 2 pit passes to the race of their choice and an autographed copy of their Paint Scheme. See images of the cars at the DeWalt Site: Paint Scheme Winners(7-13-2001)

McDonald's on the Move? UPDATE and DeWalt? The future of McDonalds' Winston Cup sponsorship is apparently on the line (currently on the #96 PPI Motorsports Ford with driver Andy Houston), according to NASCAR sources, with #9-Bill Elliott possibly in line to put the golden arches back on his uniform once again. And there are reports that Dodge's dealers association may only be backing one of Ray Evernham's two stock-car teams next season(Winston Salem Journal)(7-6-2001)UPDATE: The Dodge Dealers might be picking up some primary sponsors on Ray Evernham's team. According to a garage source, don't be surprised if McDonald's rejoins Bill Elliott as his sponsor, and Matt Kenseth comes aboard with assistance from his long-time backer, DeWalt(Sporting News), don't know anymore on the DeWalt/Kenseth thing(7-9-2001)

Kenseth/Police Incident: A State Fair Park police officer grabbed NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth by the shirt and pounded his passenger car Sunday, according to witnesses of the confrontation after a race at the fairgrounds in West Allis. No report was filed, no citations were issued and no complaints were lodged with the department, said Inspector Wayne Romeis, the State Fair Police commanding officer. Kenseth said through a representative that he did not want to comment other than to say "there was no problem at all." The incident occurred on a road on the grounds that leads to an exit onto W. 84th St. Kenseth was in traffic on his way out of the park after finishing second in the Busch Series GNC Live Well 250. The officer was on foot, witnesses said, when he ordered Kenseth to stop and get out of his car. After a discussion with Kenseth and another man, the officer told Kenseth to get back into his car and leave.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-4-2001)

DeWalt Supports Firehouse.com: DEWALT Power Tools is joining forces with Firehouse.com in a collaborative effort to enhance brand and product awareness through the fire community. Firehouse.com is the preferred destination website for the Fire and Rescue community. For three races this year, the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus driven by Matt Kenseth, will sport Firehouse.com on the rear quarter panel, the Brickyard 400 at Indy, at Dover in Sept and at Phoenix. DEWALT was recently recognized by the Transportation Emergency Rescue Community (TERC) for its outstanding contribution to the field of extrication(Firehouse.com)(6-28-2001)

Won't Go Away: Despite the insistence of Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, that all his drivers are solidly under contract, that he has no plans to let any of them buy out, and that all will back again next season, reports are hotter than ever that some of those Ford stars will be in Richard Childress' Chevrolet camp next season. Greg Biffle has toured Childress' shop south of Winston-Salem, according to team sources who insist Biffle is still a very strong candidate for a ride with Childress. However, Bobby Hutchens, general manager for Childress' racing operations, denied reports that Jeff Burton had signed or was close to signing a five-year contract with Childress to drive a Lowe's sponsored car. Lowe's officials have said privately their big goal now is to back a team that can beat Home Depot's Tony Stewart and that cost is not an issue(Winston Salem Journal), see the #17 Team News and Links page(Kenseth), #6 Team New and Links page(Biffle) and #99-Team News and Links page(Burton) for the past news on these rumors and denials(6-18-2001)

Another Roush/Kenseth Rumor UPDATE 3 Kenseth says NO: seen in the June 1st edition of the Speedway Scene magazine - Despite a recent PR that denies any drivers might be leaving the Roush organization, it is expected that Matt Kenseth(driver #17 DeWalt Ford) and Robbie Reiser (crew chief #17 and owner of Kenseth's BGN team) will depart Roush Racing and 'do their own thing' (start own team) with Chevy and DeWalt Tools(6-3-2001)UPDATE: and still hearing Kenseth to one of the RCR is close to if not a done deal also(6-4-2001)

Website on the #17:StockCarCity.com will appear on the "C" pillars of Matt Kenseth's #17 Dewalt Ford during this week.s "The Winston" and the Coca-Cola 600. "We are pleased to have StockCarCity on the car for the next two races," said Jon Howland, Motorsports Manager for DeWALT, "Mike (Calinoff) has been an asset in helping us promote our "Design the Paint Scheme" contest, plus he is also a member (spotter) of the race team." "This is exciting for us," said Calinoff, "especially since it is Matt's first venture into The Winston and we.re defending our Coca-Cola 600 title."(StockCarCity PR)(5-15-2001)UPDATE 2: Winston Cup driver Matt Kenseth is once again battling rumors that he is leaving Roush Racing at the end of the this season. Recent reports have Kenseth leaving Roush for a variety of teams, and the most-recent rumor has Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser leaving Roush to form their own team next season. Kenseth said Friday he has a contract with Roush Racing and has no plans to go anywhere else. "Honestly, when all this stuff started I just laughed about it because I had no idea where it was coming from," Kenseth said. "When somebody asked me about it, I just said `I don't know' and kind of left it alone. It's like a forest fire - somebody dropped a match and next thing you know the whole woods is burning down. Sooner or later you have to put it out." Kenseth said he is not happy with the way his #17 team is running this season, but remains happy with the Roush organization. "There are a lot of teams not happy with the way they're running. We've been getting a little bit better. I can't blame (problems) on what (car owner) Jack (Roush) provides; he gives us anything we want. ... All the rumors about going to Richard Childress - there's no truth to that rumor at all. I'm planning on staying on where I'm at."(That's Racin')(6-8-2001)UPDATE 3: Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, says there is "no way" that Childress or any other car owner will get any of Roush's drivers. Smith said he will insist on holding his drivers to their contracts. There have been reports that General Motors officials have talked with Matt Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser about moving to the Childress camp(Winston Salem Journal)(6-9-201)

#17 Special Paint: hearing the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford will carry an AT&T scheme of some sort this year at Sears Points and Daytona in the Pepsi 400(5-26-2001)UPDATE: #17 sponsor DEWALT Industrial Tools and AT&T Broadband have formed a marketing alliance that will feature AT&T in a special paint scheme on the #17 Ford Taurus for two races this season, the companies announced today. The relationship will spotlight special AT&T Broadband paint schemes for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway on June 24 and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7. The car designs for these two races will feature AT&T as the primary signage on the #17 Ford Taurus driven by Matt Kenseth in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. In addition to the special paint schemes, AT&T will be featured underneath the DEWALT logo on the hood of the car for the duration of the season. AT&T Broadbandâ¬"s integrated NASCAR program includes its sponsorship as the Official Communications Company of NASCAR, a designation that it shares with Motorola. .Together with Motorola, it has an agreement with NASCAR Winston Cup driver Rusty Wallace. .This year marks AT&T Broadbandâ¬"s first year as an associate sponsor with two Roush Racing teams, the #17 DEWALT Ford Taurus and the #99 CITGO SUPERGARD Ford Taurus driven by Jeff Burton. In addition, AT&T Broadband has relationships with three International Speedway Corporation tracks including Daytona International Speedway, the new Chicagoland Speedway and Miami-Homestead International Raceway.(Grandstand Communications), see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(6-7-2001)

Kenseth to RCR? UPDATE: it was reported on ESPN2's RPM 2Day on Sunday that #17 DeWalt driver, Matt Kenseth could be headed to Richard Childress Racing in 2002. Didn't say which car, the #30 AOL Chevy or the #31 Lowes Chevy if Skinner leaves(4-29-2001)UPDATE: Matt Kenseth comments on Roush Racing.com - "Why would I consider going anywhere else?" Matt Kenseth said. "I have the crew chief of my choice, a great group of people building cars for me, the support of DeWALT and the unlimited resources of the equipment and employees at Roush Racing. I'd be foolish to give this up."(Roush Racing Site)(5-4-2001)

Kenseth's BGN Run: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 DEWALT car will compete in 20(not 21 and not 19) BGN races in 2001. Nineteen companion events with Winston Cup races and then run one at Milwaukee in July.(Roush Racing PR x 3)(2-6-2001)

#17 Special Scheme: With a year of Winston Cup experience and the 2000 Raybestos Rookie of the Year(ROTY) crown under their belts, the only thing "rookie" about Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT Racing team in the year 2001 will be the paint scheme of the #17 Ford Taurus. In honor of last season's well-deserved title, the #17 car will feature yellow paint with the Raybestos Rookie of the Year logo on the hood. The paint scheme will be featured at Daytona, Rockingham and Las Vegas. In addition to the Rookie of the Year paint scheme, DEWALT Industrial Tools is launching a new product line for 2001 which is expected to be larger than their original launch in 1992. To market the new tools, DEWALT has decided to use the #17 car to help create excitement about the launch. Kenseth will have four new paint schemes throughout the season to compliment DEWALT's new power tools(DeWalt Racing PR). See images of the car at my Paint Scheme Gallery(1-19-2001)

2000 News

Rookie of the Year UPDATE: nothing Official yet but looks like Matt Kenseth will win the ROTY. See stories at NOL: Kenseth rules rookie class in 2000 and from That's Racin': Kenseth, team celebrate rookie crown(11-21-2000)UPDATE - it's Official: Matt Kenseth has officially been crowned the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2000 season. The driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford accepted his award Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony held at his Roush Racing shop. He was awarded a leather jacket in the ceremony, but will have to wait next month's NWCS banquet to receive his $50,000 prize from Raybestos Brakes Corp(NOL and SpeedVision), have not seen the official points breakdown yet, have it calculated without the season ending bonus points on my ROTY page(11-22-2000)

Pit Road Fire UPDATE: there was a scary incident on pit road at Rockingham when a gas can erupted into fire in #17 Matt Kenneth's DeWalt Tools team pit. The Gasman for the team, Rick Machinski, who also works in Roush's engine department was transported to a local hospital with 2nd degree burns to his neck and from inhaling the fire extinguisher fumes/chemicals. Two safety workers were also being looked at due to breathing in the fumes from the extinguisher. Great job by the safety workers and surrounding crews in handling the fire which was quickly put out. Also, from That's Racin'/AP: 3 Hurt when fire flares in pits. Firefighters Wayne Partin, Herman Andrews and Harold Andrews were released after being treated for minor burns at the infield medical center of North Carolina Speedway(AP), image of the fire at Speed Magazine(10-22-2000)UPDATE: It was reported on ESPN2's RPM 2Night that Machinski (no relation to Jayski) is home and doing ok, no scarring but is on medication, good to hear(10-23-2000)

#17 Penalty: NASCAR officials announced today they have penalized NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief Robbie Reiser for a trailing arm that was modified to be lighter than the specifications in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book discovered in preliminary inspections on Friday for the NAPA AutoCare 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 1, 2000 in Martinsville, Va. Reiser, crew chief of the No. 17 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, was fined $5,000 for violations of Section 20-12-A in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "If an I-Beam style trailing arm is used, it must be constructed using two (2) C-channels of a minimum one (1) inch in width by three (3) inches in height magnetic steel with a minimum wall thickness of 1/8 inch... welded back to back, creating a vertical wall of two (2) 1/8 inch wall thicknesses..." Reiser was penalized under Section 12-4-Q: "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not
conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR."(NASCAR PR)(10-11-2000)

Kenseth to the Trucks UPDATE 3 yes..no? Matt Kenseth has entered the Craftsman Truck Series race at RIR in September(Daily Press)(7-26-2000)UPDATE 1 No: Matt Kenseth has just a few more race weekends left with only one race to compete in. Kenseth will step back into his Robbie Reiser owned Busch Series car at Michigan on August 19, racing all of the remaining conjunction events this season, except Bristol. Kenseth will not be competing in any Truck Series races in 2000(Racin' Network)(8-4-2000)UPDATE 2 Yep: Matt Kenseth revealed he had plans to drive a truck at Richmond, in addition to the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford he drives in Cup and the #17 Visine Chevy he drives for Reiser Enterprises in BGN. So Kenseth will drive in all three races at RIR(NOL)(8-28-2000)UPDATE 3 the pinball - yes, then no, then yes, then no..... from a source - Kenseth WILL NOT be driving in the truck race at Richmond. He was never scheduled to do it. There is a conflict with the race and an off-track
promotion for the No Bull 5 event. He is, however, competing in the Busch race(8-29-2000)

Crew Member Burned: Matt Kenseth's front-tire changer, Phil Drye, sustained minor burns on his chin and blistering on his wrist while working on Kenseth's radiator Saturday night. He was burned by steam from the radiator when the cap was removed(Times Dispatch)(8-28-2000)

#17 Paint Scheme: hearing a black/reverse DeWalt paint scheme will be used at Bristol in August(7-14-2000)

Talladega Testing: Talladega Superspeedway is hosting an open test session on Tuesday, June 20, 2000. Scheduled to test are the #16 and #17 Cup cars owned by Jack Roush(Talladega PR) This may change now with the Pocono 500 race being delayed until Monday, June 19th(6-18-2000)

One owner, three winners? That's Racin' brings up a good question. When was the last time a team owner had three different drivers win in the same season? as Jack Roush has now done this year with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. The last to do it was Rick Hendrick in 1989 with Darrell Waltrip (six wins), Ken Schrader (one win) and Geoffrey Bodine (one win)(That's Racin') Technically, Mark Martin is listed as the owner of Kenseth's car and Robert Corn is listed as the owner on the Burton car, but all fall under the Roush Racing umbrella(5-31-2000)

#17 Spotter: After substituting as Matt Kenseth's Winston Cup spotter in Atlanta, Mike Calinoff (racecomm) has accepted the position as full-time spotter for the Roush/Mark Martin DeWalt team effective at Darlington. Calinoff amicably resigned from Midwest Transit Racing with driver Ricky Craven. He will continue to spot for Craven's limited Busch Series schedule(3-15-2000)

Kenseth Spotter: Mike Calinoff, of RaceComm, who spots for regularly for Ricky Craven and the #50 team will serve as #17-Matt Kenseth's spotter for Sunday's CUP race in Atlanta.Craven's Midwest Transit team has decided to skip the Atlanta race in order to prepare for Darlington(3-9-2000)

#17 Assoc: The #17 DeWalt Tools/Roush Racing team and driver Matt Kenseth have signed up Emazing.com as an associate sponsor for the#17 Ford(PR)(2-16-2000)

Kenseth at AMS UPDATE 2: Matt Kenseth will test most of next week at Atlanta. Monday and Tuesday in his #17 Visine BGN Chevy and Wednesday and Thursday in his #17 DeWalt Tools Cup Ford(goRacing)(1-22-2000) -- UPDATE: hearing Kenseth will not test at AMS on Monday but on Tuesday thru Thursday(1-23-2000) -- UPDATE 2: Matt Kenseth tested the #17 Visine BGN Chevy at AMS on Tuesday and ran a fast lap of 183.600mph. Kenseth will test the #17 DeWalt Tools CUP Ford on Wednesday and Thurday. Joining Kenseth for testing on Wednesday are Richard Childress Racing Busch drivers #21-Mike Dillon and #2-Kevin Harvick for a one day BGN test(AMS Site)(1-26-2000)

Little E/Kenseth: The new edition of ESPN the Magazine hit the newstands on Jan 20th with a cover story on the friendship and rivalry between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth(Bud PR)(1-20-2000)

1999 News

Most Promising Drivers of the Year: RACER Names Kenseth, da Matta, T. Schumacher 'Most Promising' as part of RACER magazine's Racers of the Year awards, more awards to be announced this week. Matt Kenseth: Most Promising Oval Racer of the Year; Cristiano da Matta(CART): Most Promising Road Racer of the Year; and Tony Schumacher(NHRA): Most Promising Drag Racer of the Year(Racer Mag)(12-28-1999)

Roush Auction: Roush Racing has fliers up in the Winston Cup garage area advertising an auction of some of its cars and equipment from the two teams it operates out of a shop in Liberty, N.C. Roush is building a new shop in the Charlotte area and will move its Liberty operation there. Kevin Lepage and Johnny Benson have had their teams housed at that shop. The auction, set for 10 a.m. on Nov. 29, is scheduled to include 18 Ford Taurus race cars along with other car parts and shop equipment(That's Racin')(11-21-1999)

Reiser out? UPDATE: hearing the garage gossip has Robby Reiser not being the crew chief for the Roush Racing #17 DeWalt Tools Ford to be driven by Matt Kenseth in 2000(11-7-1999) -- UPDATE: Robbie Reiser is is working to leave his #17 Busch team intact when he and Kenseth move into their new Roush Racing shop. Reiser has acted as owner and crew chief on Kenseth's Busch team. But when he becomes Kenseth's Winston Cup crew chief, he'll need a replacement on the Busch team(Times-Dispatch), doesn't sound like a guy looking to leave the Cup team(11-14-1999)

#17 Info: Matt Kenseth is carrying a new decal on his #17 Dewalt Tools Ford at Charlotte. Skills USA, a national organization offering training programs in technical, skilled at service occupations, is featured on the
hood and lower quarter panel of the #17 Ford. DEWALT is supporting Skills USA's signature-collecting drive during race weekend to help the youth organization reach its goal of compiling one million signatures to present to Congress in September of 2000 during the Washington Leadership Training Institute(MNI - motorsport.com)(10-6-1999)

Kenseth: #17-Matt Kenseth scored his first ever top-5 Winston Cup finish at Dover with a 4th place finish. That means there have been 27 different Cup drivers score a top-5 this year....last year's total number was 27. Also was Kenseth's first top 10 of the 1999 season, so there have been 40 different Cup drivers score a top-10 this year.....last year's total number was 41(Stock Cars Fans Newsletter/Rumblings)(9-26-1999)

Roush News: Jack Roush likely will have five Winston Cup teams next season, one way or another. Team officials say the outlook has brightened for the #16 car, driven by Kevin Lepage, but more serious questions now hover over Johnny Benson's #26. Benson will leave the team after the season, and sponsor Cheerios will a) transfer its primary sponsorship to Richard Petty's No. 43, and b) scatter among the Roush teams as an associate, leaving the #26 with no primary sponsor and no driver. Roush representative Stephanie Marquez said it appears very possible there will be no #26(Roush team) next season, although "anything can happen," she added. Meanwhile, TV Guide appears enthusiastic about stepping up its efforts around Lepage and the No. 16, Marquez said. In addition, Roush will add the #17 team of Matt Kenseth, with Roush superstar Mark Martin at some level of ownership.
Roush's other three teams - those of Martin, Jeff Burton and Chad Little - will continue unchanged at least for one more year, Marquez said(Racer Magazine)(9-10-1999)

Kenseth: Matt Kenseth will attempt to run his 2nd race in the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford at Darlington(8-31-1999)

Roush News: Roush Racing announced Sunday morning that Matt Kenseth and Chad Little will have their teams work from the same shop, which is being built near Concord Regional Airport. The teams are expected to move into the shop in December(News and Record)(7-26-1999)

Kenseth in 2000: besides moving up to Cup in 2000 in the #17 DeWalt Ford, I hear Matt Kenseth will run twenty races in Robbie Reiser's #17 BGN Chevy in 2000 with Jason Schuler filling in for the remaining 12. Schuler is currently a top competitor in the NASCAR Re/Max Challange series/ARTGO(www.mattkenseth.com(7-6-1999)

Polaris Switch? Hearing that Polaris will leave the #75 Cup Butch Mock(?) owned Ford and driver Ted Musgrave at the end of the year. Supposedly Polaris is forming some kind of co-operative marketing deal with DeWalt Tools and will be moving to the #17 Ford sponsored by DeWalt and the #22 Caterpillar Pontiac of Ward Burton(6-23-1999)

Kenseth/Roush Announcement UPDATE 2: Jack Roush will officially announce his plans for Matt Kenseth at a 1:00pm/et press conference before the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway this Sunday. Roush is in the process of locating a temporary shop for both Kenseth and fellow teammate Chad Little. In order not to jeopardize his rookie status when he runs the full season in 2000, Kenseth will run only five Winston Cup races this year in the Dewalt Ford Taurus. His current owner and former driver Robbie Reiser will remain in the position as Kenseth's crew chief.(SpeedVision)(5-25-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Rumor in the garage area is that Matt Kenseth will announce a three-year Winston Cup deal with Jack Roush in
a LMS press conference Sunday. Kenseth's current sponsor, Dewalt, is also on-board to the Cup Series. The car will switch to a Ford and will retain the same paint scheme as on Kenseth's current BGN ride. The team would like to keep the #17(TNN Motorsports)(5-27-1999) -- UPDATE 2, Finally Official: It was announced Sunday that Kenseth would move up to the Cup series in 2000 with his current BGN team. The only switch would be going from Chevy to Ford. The #17 DeWalt Tools Ford will be co-owned by Jack Roush and Mark Martin. Robbie Reiser will be the crew chief and plans to keep his BGN team operating with a different sponsor and driver. Kenseth will run five Cup races in 1999 with the Pepsi 400 at Michigan the first race for the team(against Earnhardt, Jr)(NOL) Other attempts will be at Darlington(9/5), Dover(9/26), Lowes(10/10) and Rockingham(10/24)(5-30-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Darrell Waltrip had the #17 reserved, but wanted Kenseth/Martin to have that number because he felt that Matt and Robbie could represent that number well(goRacing), see image at NOL(5-31-1999)

Valvoline Double? "Valvoline may join Pennzoil in pulling out of the CART Indy-car series, according to sources close to the situation. The two oil companies are among the biggest sponsors in American racing. What might Valvoline do with the money earmarked for CART? Spend it on the new Matt Kenseth-Jack Roush Winston Cup operation, according to those in the know. The Roush-Mark Martin team is Valvoline's NASCAR flagship"(PitNow)(4-28-1999)

CORRECTION: a few weeks ago, a reader asked me why Matt Kenseth didn't replace Bobby Labonte at Darlington during the Red Flag instead of wasting time during a Yellow Flag. I responded with the same answer as Benny Parsons had said on RPM2Nite the following Monday. That during a red flag stop, all work stops during a red flag and that includes replacing a driver. But last night on RPM2Nite(4/5), Benny said that he was approached by a NASCAR official at the Evergreen Speedway while out there for the CTS race and was told, a team could switch drivers, but would have to go to the back of the field(4-6-1999)

Kenseth Cup Dates UPDATE 1: I hear the dates/races for Matt Kenseth to make his five race Winston Cup run in 1999 are: The 2nd races at - Michigan, Dover, Charlotte, Rockingham, and Atlanta. This will be in a Roush car under the Mark Martin Racing banner(The LTN Hour)(3-31-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Matt Kenseth will debut a Mark Martin Racing Ford Taurus August 22 in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan. The ride will be a first for the new Martin team with Kenseth, Martin's protégé, at the wheel. The drive represents a new direction for Martin as a car owner. The team will run chassis and engines provided by Jack Roush, home of Martin's Winston Cup effort. Kenseth is expected to run the Martin Racing Ford in five Winston Cup events this season. In addition to the Michigan bow, Kenseth will strap up at Dover (September 26), Charlotte (October 10), Rockingham (October 24) and Atlanta (November 21). The team will use the five runs to prepare for the 2000 NASCAR season when it will run the entire Winston Cup schedule(TNN)(4-3-1999)

Kenseth to Cup, confirmed: Jack Roush confirmed in the postrace BGN news conference that BGN driver Matt Kenseth will drive a Mark Martin Racing car in Cup in 2000. Roush said that DeWalt Tools would like to come along with Kenseth. Roush will provide the team engines and chassis, but will be a separate team from the Roush stable. Kenseth will also drive a Roush Racing car in five Cup races in 1999(NOL/AP)(3-27-1999)

Martin Car Owner? UPDATE 2: Mark Martin could become a Winston Cup car owner as soon as next year. With Dale Earnhardt setting the precedent (driving for one team, owning a rival team with another driver), Martin could emerge in 2000 as owner of a Cup team for Matt Kenseth, possibly with DeWalt sponsorship. Martin's personal interest in rising star Kenseth, a 26-year-old from Wisconsin, gave the youngster's career a boost during an exciting rookie campaign in the Busch Series last year. Kenseth's Busch team is owned by Robbie Reiser. It receives no cars or engines from Roush Racing, but it receives guidance and sponsorship support from the Roush group. Under the Roush plan, Kenseth faces several career options, all apparently favorable. He could be graduated to one of Roush's Cup cars, or the Reiser team could become a companion team to the Roush-supported Wood Brothers outfit. At Atlanta, however, Roush suggested a third option with Mark Martin as an owner(This info from the Racer Magazine Site, thanks to Team Roush Fans Site for the heads up)(3-15-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Mark Martin's owner, Jack Roush says that Matt Kenseth may be the driver for the possible Mark Martin owned Winston Cup team for the 2000 season, DeWalt Tools may follow Kenseth as the sponsor.(NOL)(3-23-1999)

More Kennseth: Kenseth will run Sunday if Bobby Labonte can start the car, Jack Roush said. Roush has a five-race Winston Cup deal with Kenseth for this season, and a sixth start would take Kenseth out of a 2000 bid for rookie of the year(PitNow)(3-20-1999)

Martin Car Owner? UPDATE Mark Martin could become a Winston Cup car owner as soon as next year. With Dale Earnhardt setting the precedent (driving for one team, owning a rival team with another driver), Martin could emerge in 2000 as owner of a Cup team for Matt Kenseth, possibly with DeWalt sponsorship. Martin's personal interest in rising star Kenseth, a 26-year-old from Wisconsin, gave the youngster's career a boost during an exciting rookie campaign in the Busch Series last year. Kenseth's Busch team is owned by Robbie Reiser. It receives no cars or engines from Roush Racing, but it receives guidance and sponsorship support from the Roush group. Under the Roush plan, Kenseth faces several career options, all apparently favorable. He could be graduated to one of Roush's Cup cars, or the Reiser team could become a companion team to the Roush-supported Wood Brothers outfit. At Atlanta, however, Roush suggested a third option with Mark Martin as an owner(This info from the Racer Magazine Site/Ben Blake, thanks to Team Roush Fans Site for the heads up)(3-15-1999)